Parents, do your kids bug you for a smartphone? With the technology so common and accessible, it's not surprising for kids to want one for their own. But at what age should parents consider giving their children a high-end device? Is smartphone use even age-appropriate for kids?
According to a family psychologist, John Rosemond, giving children -- including those in high school -- their own smartphone would be something only "dumb" parents do. He cites that children see smartphones as primarily for their amusement. So, it's a toy to kids and a rather expensive toy at that, which makes it impractical for them to have one.
When Do Parents Give into Kids' Pleas for Devices? PC or smartphone, they have to wait until 12-to-14 age range. pic.twitter.com/RAsBcyurFr
— SureCall (@SureCall) August 21, 2015
Smartphone In Kids: Parents Giving In So The Children Won't Feel Left Out
He also cites that he doesn't know of any child who doesn't own a smartphone as a social outcast. In fact, smartphone in kids actually makes them socially isolated as they become obsessed with the device and spend more of their time fiddling with it than engaging friends in the flesh. "Social skills determine whether a child has friends, not a smartphone," he writes, via Arkansas Online. For this reason, kids are better off if their parents don't give them smartphones when they ask.
Another expert, Naomi Schaeger Riley, agrees that parents can actually say no to children wanting smartphones -- and this is perfectly alright. She cites, via New York Post, that the most common reasons parents have for giving kids an expensive device is for communication. For them, a simple mobile phone that can make calls and send texts, and that doesn't have too many features, isn't sufficient because the child might feel left out among other kids in school.
Smartphone In Kids: Parents Need To Be Parents
Riley cites this behavior regression among parents as a growing trend. Whereas it was easier for parents to resist kids who ask for smartphones few years ago, it doesn't seem to be the case this time around.
According to an academic, Sarita Schoenebeck, via 2machines, smartphone in kids also opens the door to exploration, which shouldn't be bad because it helps them develop independence. However, the danger is that it also lets children explore without any parental guidance.
Parents have to be parents, so the rule against smartphone in kids will only work if mothers and fathers consistently apply this too. Several studies regarding smartphone in kids have shown how it can be detrimental to health and development. It can affect the kids' sleeping habits, eyesight and retention, which can also affect school performance and learning. It can also cause tantrums in younger kids, causing them to develop aggressive behavior and social anxiety, per Little Things.
Have you ever considered giving your child a smartphone? What's your take on this? Let us know in the comments!
