The Washington PostThe Washington Post

What age should you give a kid their first phone?

By Heather Kelly

07 Sep 2023 · 4 min read

informed Summary

  1. Experts suggest that most children should be ready for a smartphone between the ages of 10 to 14.

There is no magical age when tweens or teens are ready for a smartphone. Each child develops at a different pace and comes with their own personalities and struggles. Parents and caregivers also have different ideas of what's appropriate for their families.

However, there are general trends and guidance everyone can take into consideration when approaching this milestone. To get you started, we asked experts what to keep in mind when it comes to giving a child their first phone.

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