Quiz

SMARTPHONE KIDS

Take our quiz and find out if your child is mature enough to have a smartphone

Christina Earle

Published: 2:21, 10 Jan 2018

MOST children get their first smartphone at the age of ten – but should you give YOUR kid one?

You could be making them vulnerable to porn, sexting and sexual predators.

The average age that a child gets an smartphone is 10 — The average age that a child gets an smartphone is 10Credit: Getty - Contributor

And Apple is being urged to investigate how addictive its phones are to children as studies show smartphone use affects their weight, attention span and even IQ.

But psychologist Emma Kenny believes you CAN allow your child a smartphone – if they can handle it.

She says: “It is down to your child’s maturity.

Parents also need to take precautions so their child is ready.”

There are apps available so parents can supervise and block inappropriate content — There are apps available so parents can supervise and block inappropriate contentCredit: Getty - Contributor

Apps such as Qustodio and Zoodles can aid mums and dads in supervising their children by blocking inappropriate content.

Here, CHRISTINA EARLE offers a quiz to help you find out if your child is ready to be connected to the internet.

Here is our quiz to see if our child is ready for a smartphone

If you're answer was 'YES'

If your child is ready for a smartphone still warn them on how smartphone use can affect schoolwork — If your child is ready for a smartphone still warn them on how smartphone use can affect schoolworkCredit: Getty - Contributor

Your child is responsible and mature enough for a smartphone but you must still exercise caution.

Use parental controls and ban them from charging it in their room at night so they are not distracted from sleeping.

Make sure they know that bad phone habits can affect their schoolwork.

They should also be willing for you to check regularly on who they are talking to and what they are viewing.

If you're answer was 'NOT YET'

If you're child is not yet ready you can still get a limited mobile plan, but make sure you give them the emotional tools to prepare them — If you're child is not yet ready you can still get a limited mobile plan, but make sure you give them the emotional tools to prepare themCredit: Getty - Contributor

Get them a mobile limited to texts and calls, they are not quite mature enough for a smartphone.

They must develop the emotional tools that let them make their own decisions – and flag warnings when things slip out of control.

To prepare for when your child gets a smartphone, warn them about predators, cyber bullying and sexting – and make sure you are well-versed on parental controls.

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If you're answer was 'NO'

If you're child is not old enough to leave the house on their own, then they are not ready to have a smartphone — If you're child is not old enough to leave the house on their own, then they are not ready to have a smartphoneCredit: Getty - Contributor

It will be a good few years before your child is mature enough to have a smartphone.

Besides, they do not need one if they are not yet old enough to leave the house on their own.

For now, see how they get on with an ordinary mobile.

Then you need to educate them about all the dangers and pitfalls involved with using smartphones before you finally allow them to own one.

By the age of 14 the average child will have sent more than 35,000 texts, 30,000 WhatsApp messages

Topics

Parenting advice