Expert Input: We spoke withchild psychiatrist Helen Egger, MD,to find out what to look for in kids’ phones and how to allow screen time in a healthy way. We also reviewed guidance from the AAP on cell phone readiness and what to consider when buying your child’s first cell phone. Safety and convenience assessment: We considered ease of use, phone plans, battery life, storage, additional features, design, parental controls, and valuewhen reviewing products. We chose cell phones that are easy to use for the recommended age groups, giving parents and caregivers peace of mind and allowing kids a little bit of safe (and fun) digital freedom. We (and caregivers) love that the iPhone SE comes with all the features your maturing child could want, and all the durability and customizable parental controls you could need to keep your kid safe, while ensuring their phone's capabilities can grow with them. The Gabb Phone Z2 is designed purely with kids new to cell phones in mind. It doesn't have internet, social media, or games, but it does include 14 pre-installed, kid-safe apps, allowing them to call, send messages, take photos, play music, and more. When used minimally, the phone's battery lasts up to a few days without needing a recharge. We love the GPS feature on the phone, which gives parents and caregivers peace of mind if their kiddo misplaces the device or if they need to know their child’s whereabouts.

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Parent and caregiver survey: We surveyed 483 caregivers and parents of children ages 4 to 17 who have given their child a cell phone or similar smart device. Devices in the iPhone family offer easy setup and a wide variety of features that are both well-suited to kids' needs and interests and highly customizable to parents' comfort levels. While they share many features in common, the biggest difference between the two models our survey respondents loved is the cost: The iPhone SE is hundreds less than the iPhone 12. Age-appropriate features and access: While an older teen may need internet and apps for school, younger kiddos probably don't require a fully loaded first phone. "A child does not need to have an internet-enabled cell phone to be able to call you," Dr. Egger tells Verywell Family. "They can use a flip phone or other similar devices." Here are some interesting results from our survey you might find helpful when deciding the best time to buy a cell phone for your kid: Mobile phones are great gadgets to help kids learn the art of conversation, from simple greetings to question and answers; help your little one learn how to start and carry a conversation from start to finish. Toy phones also offer a great way for your child to learn how to make emergency phone calls and practise other important inquiries. You can also bond with your child through fun role play conversations by encouraging them to use their imagination.

Consider how your kid's age will influence their need for features like storage space, capabilities, accessibility, and parental controls, as well as how easy it will be for your child to use on their own. It's one thing to read the specs and compare features on a phone, but to truly understand if and how these components help parents with their child's cell phone usage, we went straight to the experts: parents and caregivers of kids ages 4 to 17. Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, Enter to select OR Browse for your product by letter. It's unlikely your child will be able to regulate screen time usage on their own, so they need to be responsible enough to turn off the phone when they're told they've reached their limit for the day. Basically, look for behaviors that indicate that your child is mature enough to use the phone responsibly. Most kids got their first cell phone at age 13 (the median age in our survey was 13.7), though the best moment to give your child a cell phone will depend on their developmental age and a few key signs of readiness.

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Perhaps you're looking to introduce your little one to the wonderful world of photography? This is a brilliant hobby for kids and adults alike, so help get your child started with one of our great quality kids' cameras. They can even get creative too, editing their pictures with awesome effects and fun frames. Parents recommend that you discuss phone usage and sign a cell phone contract with your child. Be sure to discuss access to social media and time limits, as well as how and where the device can be used. And if your child uses an iPad, then you'll definitely want to ensure this gadget stays safe and protected with one of our chunky and durable foam iPad cases for kids. The Moto G Power 5 G is great for kiddos who might have a hard time remembering to charge their phone every night. We especially appreciate the two-day battery life, 256 GB storage, parental controls, and Android operating system. Design and features research: After reviewing guidance and insights from our experts, the AAP, and parents, we studied the design and features of more than 30 cell phones for kids on the market.In addition to the iPhone SE and iPhone 12, the parents and caregivers we surveyed also love the iPhone 13. Withthis expert and parentguidance in mind, we studied more than 30 cell phones for kids on the market, assessing their design, features, age appropriateness, carriers, parental controls, durability, and value. At What Age Should Kids Get a Phone? of parents in our survey say they gave their child a phone because they need to communicate with them. 14% gave them a phone as a reward (there was some overlap in these two categories).

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Smartphones are delicate devices, but the Palm is specifically designed to withstand a bit of rough play. Its tiny size is also quite convenient, especially for little hands. As far as parental controls, you have access to the full functionality of the Google Family App. The iPhone SE connects to 5G networks and is compatible with Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T, so you can easily add it to your family plan. We love the 4.7-inch widescreen display with a traditional home button capable of Touch ID with a fingerprint sensor (the iPhone 12 comes with a larger screen at 6.1 inches). We appreciate that the phone is splash-, water-, and dust-resistant, keeping it safe from accidents at school or home. It has a front and a rear camera, which are great for FaceTiming with friends, taking selfies, and capturing the world around them. According to Dr. Egger, caregivers should consider their child's actual age as well as their developmental age to determine whether or not they are ready for a cell phone. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not have a set age recommendation for cell phone use, so parents should use their best judgment. Dr. Egger tells Verywell Family, "Some children are very conscientious and responsible at a young age, [while] others take longer to mature." Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, whose passion lies in using her expertise as a devoted mom to write knowledgeably about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. Since making the switch from broadcast journalism to commerce writing,she’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 3-year-old son. While Katrina's preschooler has several more years to go before he uses a cell phone, she has been through many devices herself (from forgetting a phone on the top of her car to accidentally dropping them on the floor). Katrina finds an Android operating system easier to use but loves the tech-savviness of Apple products (especially her MacBook Pro). Regardless of type, she recommends parents and caregivers opt for a kids' cell phone with parental controls, a long battery life, and a durable design.The phone is dust- and water-resistant in up to nearly 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. It also features virtual assistant Bixby, which can remind kids of sports practice, to do their homework, and more. The Galaxy S21 FE stores up to 128 gigabytes of photos—more than 35,000 of them!—apps, and more. The phone's "Super Fast Charging" feature means it can reach 50% of its battery capacity within 30 minutes. However, parents should also keep some of the potential risks in mind, such as cell phone addiction, cyberbullying, and possible interference with interpersonal skill development. Compatibility: Consider whether or not the phone is compatible with the technology you use at home. For example, if you both have an Android phone, then you may be able to access controls and features in their phone remotely through your own cell phone. It's worth thinking about whether you want to opt for a phone that works with the carrier you already use, too. While this cell phone doesn't have parental controls or a GPS feature, you can feel at ease knowing it doesn’t have internet, social media, or other apps. There's also an emergency response button that connects to immediate help from nurses and doctors 24/7. Once you receive the phone, you'll have to select a plan with Lively.com to activate it, as it does not work with any other carriers. As part of our research, we surveyed 483 parents and asked about their kids' cell phone usage and what features they find most helpful when setting up a smartphone for their children. We gathered information on the best age to give kids their first smartphone, how children use the device, and how caregivers manage and monitor phone usage.

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of parents say their kids use their phones "all the time;" 40% have established times when smartphones can be used on weekdays and weekends. Even very early in life babies can hear a wide variety of sounds. Infants will turn towards the sound of a toy and begin to reach towards it. This ability to recognise the direction that a sound is coming from improves greatly during the first few years of life. Young infants listen longer to the sound of human voice and seem to prefer it to any other sound. They are especially aware of the sound of language and like to be spoken to slowly and with a high pitch. This is sometimes referred to as ‘infant directed speech’ or even ‘baby talk’. Young babies are quite sensitive in their auditory abilities and can perceive all the categorical sound distinctions in world languages. As babies develop their auditory abilities narrow so that eventually babies are only sensitive to those sound categories specific to their native language.To select the best cell phones for kids, we interviewed Helen Egger, MD, a child psychiatrist and professor of child and adolescent psychiatry. We also considered guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on cell phone readiness. To obtain a practical perspective, we surveyed almost 500 parents and caregivers and asked them when and why their children first started using a cell phone, what device they use, how often their kids use the phone, and how they handle device responsibility.