When should kids get a phone?

Queenie is asking Tooth fairy to bring her a phone. I had to tell her it is too heavy for the tooth fairy, and they will not know what type they should get for you. She is only 7 years old.

Is age really the issue?

I feel that is not so much on what age shall we give them. The key word is Maturity, are they mature enough to handle this gadget. And the world she gonna be expose to.

Like she will be influence with all the inappropriate content, addicted to games, become overly depending on social media, or even get bullied in the cyber world. Not to mention the the increase cases of scam calls. These are kid we are talking about, they are not mentally prepared for these cases.

On the other hand, I also want her to be technological savvy.

But deep down I know she is not ready to own a phone:

• She still do not understand the concern of $$, what if she lost the phone. she will not feel the pinch
• No able to follow strictly on schedule, let alone follow my limited screen time rule
• she does not portray to me she have a sense of responsibility of her actions and chores, tasks

So Mr L and I decided, she will not have the phone. Until, she show us she is ready.

Meanwhile, she will have guided screen time with us on laptop or ipad or. Us as parents, we must limited our phone time as well, so the kids know phone is not the only thing in the world.