When should kids get their first phone or tablet?

When we were young, there were no mobile phones, tablets, nor even a single computer in our homes. For most of the 90s kids, the first device arrived when we were already around 10-12 years old. Was it the right age to get introduced to this technology? Or was it too early, or maybe even too late?

Searching on the Internet, you can see a lot of different data on this topic with no real consensus about this. The decision of when to give a child their first phone or tablet seems hard for parents. But still, they must take it responsibly, because there are serious consequences for children. Parents and family in general should be aware of the health and security risks associated with screen time and online activity. And we all should also know the potential benefits for kids too. So, when should kids get their first phone or tablet? Let’s dig deeper!

When should kids get their first phone or tablet? What does science say about it?

Scientific research, statistics, and data should give us a hand here. We found different studies on the Internet, but some are either based on very narrow samples or include very biased surveys.

What is clear when you search for information is that many people are worried about children having their first phone or tablet so early. So here’s what we found:

In 2019, the journal Pediatrics, an international peer-reviewed journal that supports pediatric research, published a study. It found that kids who had more screen time at age 2 had lower developmental scores at age 3.

In British Columbia, Canada, a study (2019) was made with kids who entered the kindergarten level in 2019, in public elementary schools. In the conclusions, it stated that daily screen time exceeding the recommended one-hour limit for children (recommended by the Canadian 24-h Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth) had negative effects on developmental health outcomes in early childhood. The study considered five areas of developmental health: communication skills and language, cognition, emotional, social, and physical.

In 2020, another study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics revealed that kids who got their first phone before the age of 12 were at greater risk of poorer sleep, depression, and anxiety compared to children who received such a device later.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends for kids under the age of 18 months not have any screen time. The only exception the Academy mentions is a video call with their family, for instance, but that is it. In the case of children between 19-24 months, exposure to screen time can be allowed only to high-quality content and with adult supervision. Meanwhile, screen time for kids between 2 to 5 years should be limited to one hour per day of high-quality content.

For 6 years and up, the Academy recommends parents must define consistent limits on the time spent using media, and prioritize non-screen activities like reading, playing outdoors, and engaging in hobbies to support their physical and mental development. The main purpose is to give time to children

to build good habits in general, and of course around the use of technology. They must understand the benefits and risks of digital media and technology devices.

Why is it so hard to directly define a specific age when kids should get their first phone or tablet? Because every human matures at a different pace and this can be influenced by many different and individual factors like social context, family relations, education, etc. Parents need to decide if their kid is mature enough and is ready or not to get the first phone or tablet.

What are the risks related to kids getting their first phone or tablet?

The answer takes us directly to screen time, online activity, and the following risks.

· Delayed language development. Studies have shown that the process of learning a language is strongly supported by social interaction for children. A kid who spends a long time alone in front of a screen won’t have the necessary social interactions, so his or her language development will be impacted and delayed.

· Vision damage. Over time, long and constant exposure to blue light (present in phones and tablets) causes issues to retinal cells and problems like cataracts, macular degeneration, severe or total vision loss, or even eye cancer. In the short term, dry eye or eye strain can be “lighter” consequences but still, they are bad for your eyes’ health. They can lead to blurred vision, shoulder and neck pain, headaches, etc. It is bad for adults, but it gets worse for children! Based on a vision study by the National Eye Institute in the U.S., children are at greater risk because their eyes absorb more blue light. That is why daily limits are necessary and a proper distance between the child and the device is recommended. Long screen time at a very early age makes kids more prone a to nearsightedness (myopia).

· Addiction. Screens are highly addictive for everybody. But at an early age, without limits and adult supervision, kids can easily become addicted. And this can be the origin of changes in their behavior, poor academic performance, social isolation, sedentary lifestyle, etc.

· Obesity. Kids spending long periods of sedentary time on screens reduces a lot of the time and opportunities to engage in physical activity. Besides, snacking while using devices is a very common and bad habit that directly leads to obesity.

· Poor sleep quality. The blue light emitted from screens can disrupt sleep patterns because it boosts our sense of alertness. The longer the screen sessions last, the higher the risk, which can make it very hard for kids to fall asleep and stay asleep.

· Mental and behavioral issues. Excessive screen time has been pointed out as a cause of hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, aggression, and depression in young kids.

· Exposure to inappropriate content. Adult supervision and limits are vital for a kid to navigate the dangerous waters of the Internet. If – as an adult – you can beshocked by some violent and explicit content, imagine what it can cause to a younger, much more impressionable mind!

Alone, children can easily come across inappropriate content, pornography, explicit language, violence, and dangerous people.

· Cyber bullying. Accessing messaging apps and social media opens the chance to be a target of cyber bullying. Kids’ self-esteem and mental health can be at serious risk.

What are the benefits related to kids having a phone or tablet?

· Communication and basic safety. Having these devices, kids can stay in touch with their parents and caregivers regularly but also in the case of an emergency.

· Educational apps and games. Tablets and phones can give access to more knowledge and opportunities to learn new skills or improve others.

· Development of digital literacy. Children’s access to technology makes them more familiar with – and skilled to use – digital tools. The world is going digital quickly and soon, they will need to use computers and different digital services to study or work.

When should kids get their first phone or tablet? Recommendations.

· Consider age and maturity. For the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under the age of 18 months must avoid screen time altogether. Children between 18 months and 5 years should have limited access to screens. It is very important to consider the child’s maturity level and ability to handle responsibility before giving him or her a device.

· Set rules and limits. Define strict rules about when, how, and the length of time devices can be used. Ensure you monitor these sessions with your kid, so you know they’re accessing quality content, and using the device in the correct manner.

· Use parental controls. Kids learn fast and you must be one step ahead (or more) to protect them. Buy devices and apps with built-in parental controls for you to manage your kid’s online activity and prevent access to inappropriate content.

· Talk about online safety. Explain clearly to your kid the risks linked to online activity and how to stay safe. Teach them to never share personal information or communicate with strangers.

· Be an example of healthy screen use. Children learn from you, your behavior, and your habits. Teach them through example healthy screen use. Limit your own screen time, avoid using the phone or tablet while having meals or before going to sleep, and prioritize face-to-face interaction with your kid.

Conclusion

When should kids get their first phone or tablet? Once you have seriously evaluated the risks and benefits, and only if you can be there to supervise the screen time and if your kid is mature enough to understand this responsibility.

Steve Jobs’ kids didn’t receive an iPad when it came out. In his opinion, tablets and mobile phones were dangerous for young people. The same happened to Bill Gates’ children. They were kept away from tablets and mobile phones until the age of 14. The risks for teens are still there, just like for adults, but it makes sense. We talked in this article about considering kids’ maturity to distinguish, avoid or handle risks.

If you ask us, there are too many risks. Cognitive issues, eye problems, behavioral changes, lack of social skills, fear of face-to-face communication, and so on. It’s best if you don’t introduce your toddler to a phone or tablet. Keep your kids away from pocket devices as much as you can. If needed, buy them an old-style mobile phone so they will be less interested in it and use it for the absolute basics of communication.

Be a good parent! Think about the health of your child first!