Is your kid ready for a mobile phone?

They say it takes a village to raise a kid. So, we appreciate you as a parent in taking the extra effort to assess this decision.

Please answer these following questions to help you, as a parent, understand if your kid is ready for a mobile phone.

Question 1:

How often does your kid lose or misplace their belongings?

1. Never         2. Rarely        3. Sometimes       4. Usually                 

Question 2:

How does your kid handle talking about uncomfortable topics with you?

1. Super Comfortable       2. Pretty Comfortable       3. Not so comfortable      4. Not Comfortable

Question 3:

What rules does your kid’s school have around cell phone usage?

1. Kids aren’t allowed phones during class
2. The school has rules, but I think kids don’t listen
3. They have rules, but they’re not strictly enforced
4. No strict rules around the usage of cell phones

Question 4:

Are you ready to lay down some ground rules and stick to them?

1. We already spoke about ground rules and time limits
2. I know I have to lay down rules, but I haven’t yet
3. I have an idea of ground rules, but need to solidify them
4. Oh, I need to make ground rules!?

Question 5:

How does your kid handle decision-making when you’re not around?

1. Pretty Good, They make smart choices
2. Fantastic! They’ve great judgment and take my feedback, if necessary
3. They need help in making choices; they’re directionally okay
4. Still working on decision-making in our absence

Question 6:

How well does your kid do with current house rules around screen time (TV, gaming, etc.)?

1. Pretty Good! My child adheres largely barring a few exception days.
2. We have good days and bad days
3. Heck! They adhere less and they twist my rules to their own convenience
4. We don’t have any rules in the house

Question 7:

Do you try to model good cell phone habits for your kid?

1. Sure, it is always on top of my mind.
2. I can improve. I don’t always consciously be a good model for my kid.
3. I try, but I forget.
4. Uh-oh, I don’t think so.

Question 8:

Does your kid already have their own phone?

1. We’ve already taken the plunge
2. We’re getting close
3. I don’t plan to give one for a while
4. No, but his or her sibling already owns one

Question 9:

Do you talk to other parents about your kids using cellphones and social media?

1. With close friends, yes
2. Ya, with his friends parents 
3. Have been thinking about it, but haven’t talked to one
4. Strictly don’t plan to talk

How to evaluate the situation from the above answer choices?

Add up the option values of all your answers. If the sum total is less than or equal to 10, then you can be confident to provide a phone to your kid. If the score is between 11 to 15, your kid seems to be somewhat ready but you might want to take some time to think through their social, emotional, and practical readiness. If the score is 16 or above, then it means this stage is a bit away from the current time.

Some parents feel more comfortable providing a phone to their child as that enables them to always stay connected. Whereas some parents only want to provide a phone when they’re absolutely sure. Every parent and situations are different, but most parents think of providing a phone between the ages 11 and 16 with 13 being the most optimum age to provide a phone, on average.

Hope this is useful, thank you.

You may like to read: Importance of Nature and Forest Time for Kids, AEPS 3 – An Excellent System for your Child, and AI & Python Coding for Kids