Ages four to six The experts are unequivocal: Kids in this age group shouldn't be using smartphones (or other mobile devices), period.
Many kids are ready for a phone by age 13, but this decision really boils down to your child's maturity and the phone's necessity. We'll walk you through some important considerations, the range of cell phones and smartwatches designed for kids, and some tips for controlling screen time.
Your child is much more likely to become addicted to technology by having a phone at this age. Age 7 to 9 – The experts say “no phones.” Sure, you could argue that this is old enough to have a phone, but the brain is still in a serious developmental stage, and all technology has a major impact at this age.
Here's what the experts have to say on age-by-age guidelines. Ages four to six The experts are unequivocal: Kids in this age group shouldn't be using smartphones (or other mobile devices), period.
How safe is TikTok? Using any social network can be risky, but it's possible for kids to safely use the app with adult supervision (and a private account). TikTok has different rules for different ages: Users under age 13 can't post videos or comment, and content is curated for a younger audience.
Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, says he is often asked what's the right age to give a kid a phone. “I tell parents that it's not so much about a particular age as it is about a kid's social awareness and understanding of what the technology means,” Dr. Bubrick explains.
Parents should wait until preschool to introduce their children to smart devices like smartphones and tablets, and even then should limit the use to less than an hour a day in the same room as the parent.
Your 8-year-old now
Most developmental experts agree that the longer you can hold off on a phone for a child, the better. There's also the question of whether certain items are best delayed as privileges of age. If your child gets everything from the start, what is there to look forward to?
Just over half of children in the United States — 53 percent — now own a smartphone by the age of 11. And 84 percent of teenagers now have their own phones, immersing themselves in a rich and complex world of experiences that adults sometimes need a lot of decoding to understand.
Threatening to take away your teen's phone may seem like a great way to get them to do something. But it's usually not a good choice as a punishment. When you take away their phone, you're turning off the television, banning games, taking away their ability to talk with friends, and grounding them all at once.
Typically, it's best for children under 13 not to engage in romantic relationships as they are still developing emotionally and cognitively. Healthy friendships are encouraged for teenagers between 13 and 15, but romantic relationships could be too much for them to handle.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children between age 2 and 5 have just one hour of screen time per day. As children get older and begin using tablets to complete school-related activities, this time limit may be extended.
Yousuf said pediatricians generally recommend the following guidelines: Under 2 years old: Zero screen time, except for video chatting with family or friends. 2-5 years old: No more than one hour per day co-viewing with a parent or sibling. 5-17 years old: Generally no more than two hours per day, except for homework.
Most iPad models hold up well in performance, features, and storage over this timeframe which means that five years is a standard lifespan for any iPad.
Children who are on their phones too much can miss out on other valuable activities, like exercise. And research has shown that excessive phone use can exacerbate the problems of certain vulnerable groups, like children with mental health issues.
Multiple studies link addictive relationships with mobile devices to mental health problems in teens, including depression, anxiety, and disrupted sleep. Neuroscience tells us that tweens' and teens' developing brains make them especially vulnerable to both addiction and mental health crises.
Make sure you have enough storage
You can check your device's storage in Settings > General > [Device] Storage. For best performance, try to maintain at least 1 GB of free space. If your available storage is consistently less than 1 GB, your device may slow down as iOS or iPadOS repeatedly makes room for more content.
Negative Effects of Too Much Screen Time:
Eye Strain and Headaches - Too much time spent looking at screens can cause fatigue or discomfort in your eyes as well as dimmed vision. Glare on screens and the brightness of the display can place further strain on your eyes. Eventually, this strain can lead to headaches.
Whether your child is 2 or 12, it's never too early to begin establishing a safe technology environment at home. Using technology should be an active experience that involves children and their parents at every stage.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says to wait until after 2 years old to put a tablet in their hands. PBS encourages you to wait until preschool.
Based on reports from families, Wooldridge hypothesizes that parents and caregivers are citing “education” as the primary objective when granting screen time to babies and toddlers. “The reality is that when you ask parents how the devices are being used, it is mostly to occupy or distract the child,” she says.
The age in which tweens develop romantic interests in other people varies tremendously from child to child. Some kids may start expressing interest in having a boyfriend or girlfriend as early as age 10 while others are 12 or 13 before they show any interest.
Experts say that kids commonly have their first crush when they're 5 or 6. "Younger children focus their love on their family," explains Cynthia Langtiw, Psy. D., assistant professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.