SkieAt what age should a child get their first phone?
There is no right age that fits every child. Many families decide when the child travels alone or needs to be reachable, often between about 9 and 13. Readiness matters more than age: can they follow rules, look after the device, and tell you when something feels wrong.
Anyone who gives you one number is guessing. Families differ in where they live, how far school is, whether there are older siblings and what friends are doing. The calendar is a weak guide.
Better signs are practical. Does your child have a real need, such as a commute or an activity after school? Do they look after belongings? Do they stop when asked? Can they tell you about something odd they saw online without fear of losing everything?
You do not have to choose between no device and a full smartphone. A tablet at home, a phone that only calls and runs a few apps, or a managed phone with limits are all in between. Skie lets you start narrow, with calls, a few apps and location, then widen as your child shows they are ready.
Some parents wait until the end of primary school and some start earlier with a basic setup. Neither is wrong. What matters is that the first device does not arrive with every app and no rules, because taking things away later is much harder than adding them.
Write the rules down together, including where the phone sleeps at night, and agree a date to review them. Pricing for Skie is on request, and it runs on a device you may already own.