LCS Smart Parenting Series #5: Is your child ready for a smartphone?

Ages four to six

Kids in this age group shouldn’t be using smartphones (or other mobile devices).

Pediatrics advises placing consistent limits on media consumption for children ages six and older.

Smartphone use at a very young age is damaging to developing brains, according to Michael Cheng, a child and family psychiatrist at Ottawa’s Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He explains that mobile devices cause the brain to become wired from an early age to crave easy dopamine, referring to the “feel-good” chemical released by the brain.

The constant overstimulation from screens gives the brain hits of dopamine (and adrenaline), which is why they’re so addictive.

Ages 7-9

According to a 2014 report by the non-profit group MediaSmarts, 24 percent of Canadian children in grade four—some as young as eight years old—own mobile phones. However, if some parents want their kids to have phones to keep in touch when they’re away from home, an old-school flip phone without Internet access will do just fine.

Ages 10 to 12

Parents should place strict limits on phone usage at this age and not give children Internet-enabled mobile devices.

When it comes to screens in general, excess screen time is associated with unhealthy habits, such as consuming more junk food. There are issues with younger kids that stem from video game addiction.

Teens

Parents should try to push back the age at which kids get their first smartphones to 16 years old.

During the teen years, parents should try to manage phone usage while keeping an eye out for signs that their teen may be a victim of cyberbullying. “Kids want to constantly be on their phones to make sure that no one is talking about them,” says Arnall. “Social media is stressful, and kids need parents to help them deal with that stress.”

Teens should only use social networks to connect with friends they have in real life. “Studies show that if you’re a teen who already has face-to-face friends, social media can help you strengthen your connections with those friends,”. Teens should avoid using social media to meet new people because this can lead to delusions of having friends who aren’t “true” friends.

There is no best age for when your kid can use a smart device or to expose them to one, however parents should allow and monitor their kids usage in moderation.