6 Signs Your Child Isn’t Ready for a Phone

Phones are like puppies: You don’t have to get one for your kid no matter how much they beg. It’s smart to wait until your child demonstrates some responsibility before you buy one.

We’ve identified six warning signs that your child isn’t quite ready for a phone, plus some tips to help them prepare.

If your child pitches a fit any time you limit their tablet, laptop, TV, or video game use, they’re unlikely to respect any phone rules. You might want to wait until they demonstrate more maturity before giving them their first phone. Just be clear that your decision hinges on their acceptance of screen time rules.

Need a hand? Use router-level parental controls like Bark Home or Circle Home Plus to lock specific devices in your home.

You can probably relate to this feeling: You’re slightly bored and your phone is right there, begging to be scrolled through. It’s tempting to pick it up, even at inappropriate times like when you’re eating dinner with family.

Your child isn’t immune to this temptation. You’ll need to teach them healthy device use no matter what, but it may be easier to wait until their impulse control improves. Some children may be ready before others.

A phone needs to be charged on a daily basis. If your child constantly needs to be reminded to do other daily tasks—like brushing their teeth or putting dirty clothes in the laundry bin—they may not be responsible enough to keep their phone charged.

That said, every kids phone and kids smartwatch we’ve reviewed features a to-do list that could help with this. Parents add items to the to-do list and kids check them off—in some cases even earning a reward for doing so.

Parent apps also include low-battery warnings so you can help your child manage their device battery.

Everyone misplaces something now and then, but think twice about getting your child a phone if you have to track down important items for them nearly every day. There’s a good chance they’ll lose their phone, too, and it’ll be pricey to replace.

That said, most kids phones come with a “lost phone alarm.” Just turn on this alarm from the parent app and follow the sound.

Bark’s 2022 report notes an incredible 83% of teens and 71% of tweens have been a bully, been the victim of bullying, or witnessed bullying. Giving your child a phone opens them up to a whole new world of bullying called cyberbullying.

While you can take steps to prevent cyberbullying, such as blocking social media apps or monitoring text messages, you may want to let your child heal from a recent bullying incident before you give them a phone. Likewise, if your child is being a bully, they’re not emotionally mature enough for the responsibility of a phone.

Once they have a phone with internet access or social media apps, there’s a chance they’ll encounter some confusing situations or distressing content. Kids need to be taught how to navigate these scenarios in a healthy way, and that means talking about them with a trusted adult. Hopefully, that’s you.

If your parent-child relationship lacks trust and open communication, try to improve it before you grant them their first phone. Simply practicing non-judgmental listening can go a long way.

1. Your child is ready for a phone. Exciting! Compare our favorite kids phones.
2. Your child isn’t ready for the internet but needs some way to communicate with you. Totally understandable. Try the internet-free Gabb Phone or a kids smartwatch.
3. Your child isn’t ready for any kind of tech device. That’s okay—there’s no timeline to rush through. If your child is the one pushing for a phone, communicate your expectations with them. For example, you might explain that they need to not protest screen time limits for one month before you’ll consider getting them a phone.

• What Age Should Kids Get a Phone?
• Best Parental Control Apps
• Internet Safety Guide for Kids
• Online Safety for Kids: Parenting Tips for Tech
• How to Keep Your Teen (or Tween) Safe Online