Nowadays, more and more children own their own smartphone. Here you can find out at what age a mobile phone makes sense for children and which functions are important (and which are not).
Many parents are critical of the topic, after all, children used to get by without a cell phone. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that a smartphone can be very useful – for example when lessons are canceled and the actual appointment has to be brought forward to pick up from school. Or in an emergency, when a child needs help in a threatening situation. The question here, however, is at what age it makes sense to buy a mobile phone, since most children are under the constant supervision of their parents at a young age. In addition, a smartphone must be tailored to the needs of a child, since a wide variety of dangers lurk on the Internet.
At what age does a cell phone make sense for children?
one current statistics As a result, around six percent of six to seven-year-old children and 33 percent of eight to nine-year-old children in Germany alone have their own smartphone. Among ten to eleven-year-olds it is even 75 percent – but they are topped by 12 to 13-year-olds: 95 percent of them own an internet-enabled cell phone (as of 2019). However, that does not mean that you should use it as a guide, quite the opposite. The general educational recommendation states that children should not own their own smartphone before the age of nine. On the other hand, a kind of emergency cell phone that can be used for calls but not for surfing is quite legitimate.
According to the KIM study from theMedia Education Research Association Southwest, three out of five children aged eight to nine years are online (as of: 2018). The activities most frequently mentioned by young Internet users include research using search engines (65 percent), sending WhatsApp messages (62 percent) and YouTube videos (56 percent). And it is precisely for this reason that responsible cell phone use is extremely important for children – young schoolchildren only develop an awareness of what is right and what is wrong as they get older. It is all the more important that you only give your offspring between the ages of nine and twelve grant access to the Internet. You can control this using the corresponding functions in the smartphone.
The search for a child-friendly cell phone should be done carefully
© ozgurdonmaz / Getty Images
What features should a children’s cell phone have?
You have to be clear about this: The younger the user, the more robust the handling of the mobile phone. Accordingly, the first phone for your offspring should be as resistant as possible to external influences – for example with an impact-resistant case and a screen protector. To keep an eye on the cost of phone calls and SMS, getting one prepaid cell phones quite expedient. Alternatively, there are also special tariffs for children, in which you can specify how many free minutes the user should have. In any case, make sure that your child does not “accidentally” increase the costs, because you have to pay the bill (legally speaking) in the end.
How much cell phone time is recommended for children?
While parents tend to stare at their phones all day, their kids shouldn’t do the same. Because at the latest when you grant them Internet access, the temptation to surf the net for several hours a day is great. Since explicit bans unfortunately only increase the incentive not to follow the rules, you should make a clear agreement with your child. In plain language, this means: Set a mobile-free time for each day, for example when you have to do your homework. On the one hand, children learn how to use their smartphones responsibly, and on the other hand, you reduce the risk of your offspring becoming addicted to their phones. Depending on how old your child is, the maximum usage time of the smartphone per day is 30 minutes recommended for seven to eight year olds and accordingly 45 minutes for eight to nine year olds etc.
Which mobile phone is suitable as an entry-level model?
1.Nokia 3310
The mobile phone is a real classic: At the end of 2000, the telephone conquered the digital market – and is still considered unbeatable in terms of battery life. Apart from that, the phone is extremely robust, if not “indestructible” (loyal fans say). In contrast to its predecessor, the new edition even has a color display and a 2-megapixel camera. Best of all, the Nokia 3310 does not have internet access, making it ideal for children who should only be able to use the phone to text or make calls. here get the model in different colors.
2.Samsung E1200i
The same applies to this cell phone, which your child also cannot use to surf the Internet. Here, too, the phone scores with its ease of use and long battery life. The model is also extremely robust and also has an SOS message function that can be used in an emergency. The mobile phone is therefore ideal for children if it is only a matter of making a call or writing an SMS. With a low price of around 50 euros, the Samsung E1200i is a good and solid entry-level model. here there is the cell phone.
3. Cubot King Kong
If you want to buy your child an Internet-enabled mobile phone, the Cubot Kingkong is recommended. The smartphone is waterproof, shockproof and dustproof – making it extremely robust against external influences. With its 4400mAh large battery capacity, the phone lasts a long time, and it also has an integrated GPS module in case your child gets lost and can’t find the way home. A little more expensive to buy than a classic cell phone, the Cubot Kingkong is still relatively cheap compared to other smartphones from Apple & Co. here find the cell phone.
4. Lisciani Giochi
This Italian smartphone is just as expensive, but it clearly stands out from the other cell phones in terms of looks: the colorful display is primarily intended to appeal to children – this has changed the Android 7.0 operating system visually. According to the manufacturer, the phone is suitable for six to twelve year olds, as there are various apps on the phone that are designed to help students learn. The technical highlights include the integrated dual camera, the 2,000mAh battery and the SOS function.here there is the cell phone.
5. Kidicom Max
According to the dealer, this cell phone is recommended for children between the ages of four and ten as a sensible alternative to a smartphone. It has the advantage that the messenger function only works if the phone can access WLAN – ideally only at home or with friends. In addition, it has a rotatable camera and child-friendly apps that are supposed to be educational. The biggest advantage, however, is that the Kidicom Max comes pre-installed with a child-safe web browser. here get the phone.
How do I protect my child from data misuse?
If you decide to give your child an internet-enabled smartphone, there are a few things you should consider before you give them the phone:
- If possible, set a PIN with which the cell phone must be unlocked – in the event that your child loses the cell phone and falls into the hands of a stranger.
- Explain to your child in advance what data they can and cannot store on their cell phone – the same applies to all social media platforms.
- Set the apps your child can use. There are a variety of child-friendly learning and gaming apps that are age-appropriate and can be useful in everyday life.
- Prevent your child from buying apps on their own to avoid cost traps – there are special apps here that you can use to install parental controls in the web browser.
One final tip: So that you always know where your child is, you can do it with a GPS tracker equip. This one will be easy on that satchel clearly visible (but not secretly!) and thus enables you to locate your offspring via smartphone at any time – without distance limit.
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