At What Age Should Kids Get Their First Phone?

What’s the right age for kids to have their very first phone? What’s your opinion? Have you got any experiences to share?

This is a current dilemma for this family with our ten-year-old twins who are desperate for phones of their own.

School starts all too soon and I bet loads of us are wondering whether this is the right time to buy phones for our children.

Our teenagers are now 19 and 17 and have smartphones in their hands all the hours of the day and occasionally some of the night too.

We bought them iPhones on Optus plans when they started high school. They were thrilled of course. But that’s not something I intend to do again.

Their plans were postpaid and both ran up at least one massive bill which they had to painfully repay. And iPhones are wildly expensive. Many screens have been smashed over the years too and these cost a lot to repair.

In our new era of fiscal responsibility, Paul and I just can’t afford the massive costs of iPhones and we totally don’t need to spend a lot. We’ll also never get postpaid plans for any kids again, prepaid is so much better.

The teens now have prepaid plans with Optus which they pay for themselves these days.

Paul says he’d like the twins to only get a phone when they can pay for it all themselves. A bit harsh maybe?

The two of them are starting to go on buses and to walk and cycle further afield.

I’d quite like them to have a simple, practical phone with them so that I could call them when I need them. They could also contact me if they needed help or advice… or a lift.

I’d also like to be able to track their phones so that I can find out exactly where they are at any time. Big Brother isn’t watching, it’s Big Mother.

Twins please note, we expect you to get jobs and start paying for your own phones as soon as you can.

I’d love to hear from you. Do your children have phones? At what age did they get them? What are your experiences?

Do share!