Good first mobile for children

Is your child ready for their first mobile phone? Today it is common for children to have their own smartphones, often as early as primary school age. This provides security in everyday life for both the child and the adults, but also raises many questions. What are the right features? When is the child ready? And how do you talk about online safety? Here we go through what might be good to think about before buying a phone for children.

What is a good mobile phone for children?

A good mobile phone for children should be easy to use, have basic functions such as calls, text messages, a camera and maybe a few apps, and be customizable with parental controls. A child does not need to have the latest mobile phone on the market – for many, a simpler smartphone is enough.

Also, keep in mind that children are children – they will drop their phone on the ground, so a sturdy case and screen protector can be a good idea no matter what phone it ends up being.

Good to think about

There are a few things that might be good to consider before buying your child's first mobile phone.

• Does the child need to be able to reach you when they are not at home?
• Will the mobile phone be used for schoolwork or mostly for entertainment?
• What functions do you want the mobile phone to have and which ones do you want to be able to limit?
• How much screen time feels reasonable in your family?
• Do you want to be able to track your child's location using your mobile phone?
• Will the child bring their cell phone to school (and what do the school rules say about that)?
• Should the mobile phone have access to the internet outside the home or is WiFi enough?
• Do you want your child to be able to receive calls and texts from anyone or only from selected contacts?
• Is the child interested and curious or more uncertain about having their own mobile phone?

A simpler model with the ability to adjust which apps can be downloaded, limit screen time, and activate location sharing gives many parents a safer feeling.

When should you give a cell phone to children?

There is no set age for when a child should get their first cell phone, it's more about maturity. Here are some signs that your child may be ready:

• It can handle responsibilities, such as keeping track of things or times
• Is interested in connecting with friends on their own
• It listens when you talk about rules and understands why they exist
• It moves more freely, for example goes to school by itself

Just because your child wants a cell phone doesn't mean they're ready - but it's a good starting point for a conversation about why, how and when it might be relevant.

Parental control

Most modern smartphones from Apple and Android today have built-in parental control features.

iPhone

All models from iOS 12 onwards have something called Screen Time, where you can:

• Limit which apps can be used and when
• Block purchases in the App Store
• Control communication (e.g. who the child can call or text with)
• Track how your phone is used
• Share location in real time

Android

Most Android phones can be connected to Google Family Link, which works in a similar way. There you can:

• Approve or block apps
• Set daily screen time limits
• Lock your phone remotely
• See where the child is

How is a mobile phone used by children?

Children often use a mobile phone in a different way than adults. Younger children rarely make spontaneous calls, but rather send messages, watch videos or play games. Many use their mobile phone mostly at home or in school environments with access to WiFi, which means that the amount of surfing does not always need to be as large at first.

It can be a good idea to start from how the child lives their everyday life: Is it a lot on their own, in leisure time or on the move between after-school activities? Then access to a mobile phone becomes extra useful.

Choose used

En used mobile phone is often a good option as a first phone. It is a more sustainable choice, both financially and environmentally. At reNewed we offer used smartphones from well-known manufacturers such as Samsung, Apple and Xiaomi. All phones are thoroughly tested, factory reset with at least 80% battery health and come with a 12-month warranty, so you can feel confident with your purchase.

An older cell phone often works great for children's needs. Just make sure it can run the apps you want to use, such as parental controls or school platforms.

Talk about online safety

When a child gets their own mobile phone, it opens the door to both contact with others and greater access to the internet. It's a good time to start talking about what it means to be online. Talk to your child about the following points:

• How to be towards others online
• Never share personal information
• What to do if you see something unpleasant
• How advertising and content in apps can affect a

The earlier you start talking about this, the more natural it will be for the child to ask questions and tell you if something is happening.

FAQ

At what age should children get a mobile phone?

Many children get their first mobile phone around the age of 9–12, often when they start going to school on their own or have activities without adults. The most important thing is that the child is mature enough to handle a mobile phone responsibly.

Which iPhone is suitable for a 10-year-old?

An iPhone SE or an older model like the iPhone 11 could be a good option for a 10-year-old. They have good performance for school, calls, and apps, while being more affordable than the latest models.

Can a 12 year old use a phone?

Yes, many 12-year-olds have cell phones. It's common at that age, especially to stay in touch with parents and friends. It can be a good idea to use parental controls to adjust the content to the child's age.

What is a good subscription plan?

A good subscription plan for children and young people depends on needs, age and parental preferences. Here are some factors to consider:

• Low monthly cost
  For children, a cheap subscription is often enough. Many operators offer special children's or family subscriptions with lower prices and less data.
• Limited browsing
  A reasonable amount of data – for example 2–6 GB – is enough for messages, music and some video. It also reduces the risk of your child using the phone without limits.
• Free calls and texts
  It's practical to have free calls and texts so that the child can always reach parents, especially if the data allowance runs out.
• Possibility of barriers and control
  Subscriptions that allow you as a parent to set restrictions on paid services, calls or data traffic are a safe choice. Some operators offer apps to manage this.
• Family subscription
  If you already have a subscription with a particular operator, it may be worth adding the child as an additional user to a family subscription. It is often cheaper than a separate contract.

If the subscription is to be used on an older phone or a model without eSIM, you should check that the operator offers a regular SIM card.