Why children should have a phone
There are many good reasons to think about giving your child a mobile phone:
Responsibility: Phones are a great tool for teaching children responsibility: not only do they learn to take care of the phone, but also to control data usage within the phone plan you have contracted for them.
Comfort: Is football training delayed? Have you forgotten your flute at home? It can now send you a text message to let you know.
Safety: A phone allows your child to contact you – and you to contact them – in case of an emergency.
Education: While not everything on the internet is educational (the biggest understatement ever), smartphones give children access to a wealth of information, from language apps to YouTube tutorials that can help them with maths homework.
What is the best phone for children?
Now that you know some of the advantages of owning a phone, the biggest question on your mind may be: What is the best phone for children? Or, if you have a teenager, what are the best phones for teenagers?
If your child is younger, a more durable (and less expensive) phone is probably the best option. You may also want one that offers parental controls and/or GPS to help find your child’s phone if it gets lost. Here are some of our top picks:
iPhone SE (3rd generation): Inexpensive but with the same processor as the iPhone 13, the iPhone SE is a great phone for kids thanks to its price and parent-friendly features such as screen time control and family sharing.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G: This entry-level device from Samsung (priced accordingly) is an excellent first phone with great battery life.
Google Pixel 6A: This entry-level Google device offers many of the same features as higher-end models at a more affordable price and also comes with Google Family Link.
Motorola G Pure: Another budget option, the Motorola G Pure is a popular starter phone with basic features perfect for younger children.
Once you’ve chosen your phone, it’s time to think about the best phone plan for your children (parental obligations never end).
