From Smartwatches to Cell Phones

Over the past year I’ve wondered if there is a “right” age for a child to have a cell phone. To be more specific, an iPhone. It’s come to my mind when our family travels and also when Isabelle uses my phone occasionally to take pictures of something then asks when she will get one. Phones are complicated because they can provide a means of safety, but when a kid gets one, the temptation to get on social media is likely to accelerate. I won’t get started on social media in this post — that’s a rabbit hole for another day. 

Now, back to the age-appropriateness question. I think it depends entirely on the family’s situation and the child’s maturity level. Some children go between parents’ houses and some travel with sports teams, for example. These could be reasons for a child to have a cell phone. However, parents and guardians have to be careful to keep kids safe by controlling what children can and cannot access through a phone. Meanwhile, kids have to understand screen time privacy concerns and screen time boundaries. It can get complicated quickly. 

A few months ago, my husband and I started talking about whether we were going to dive into the cell phone world for elementary-aged Isabelle. Our concerns were mostly travel related. When traveling, Isabelle previously used an Apple AirTag bracelet in case, heaven forbid, our family got separated. Was there a good step between this and iPhone world, though? We hoped so. That’s when my husband started looking into smartwatches for kids. We were both impressed with the offerings.

The Garmin Bounce

After researching, our choice was the Garmin Bounce. We subscribe and, through the Garmin Jr. app, we can send text messages to Isabelle’s watch. She can respond back to us and to contacts we have approved. This means just our family, for now. There is also two-way voice messaging. On the safety side, there is an assistance feature, and we can track her location. 

When comparing smartwatches for kids, one thing that caught our eye about the Garmin Bounce was its repeated praise as a great option for active kids. Isabelle is an athlete with extra energy to spare, and the Bounce allows her to track sports and fitness. There are rewards for hitting fitness goals (and doing chores!). It’s also waterproof, has academic games, etc. Isabelle is genuinely learning when she uses it! One of our favorite features is that we can set it to “school mode,” which means that she cannot play around with it during school days, though it still records her fitness. 

For us, the smartwatch is a happy medium between the AirTag and iPhone. We needed a travel safety solution and ended up with something engaging for our child. Isabelle is setting new fitness goals, playing math games, and learning fun facts about countries. The iPhone can definitely wait…for now!

Are you wondering whether or not your kid is ready for an iPhone? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Why does my child need an iPhone?

Determine the primary reasons for getting them an iPhone. Is it for safety, to stay in touch, educational purposes, or social reasons?

2. Is my child responsible enough to handle an iPhone?

Assess whether they are mature enough to use an iPhone responsibly, including using it appropriately.

3. What rules will you have for phone usage?

Will you set clear guidelines regarding screen time, app usage, internet access, privacy, and behavior online? How will you discuss those things?

4. What measures will you take to ensure your child’s online safety?

Are you prepared to take on parental controls, monitoring apps, and discussing internet safety practices?

5. How will you monitor your child’s social media use?

Will you let your child use social media and, if so, how will you monitor activity? 

6. Does your child understand online privacy?

Is your child able to grasp the concept of online privacy and can they understand the importance of not sharing personal information online and respecting others’ privacy?

7. Does your child know about cyberbullying?

Is your child prepared to report cyberbullying to you immediately if it happens?

8. What will be the consequence if the phone is misused?

Will you restrict phone use or take the phone away if it is misused by your child? How will you talk to them about this?

9. Will you discuss the concept of a digital footprint?

Will your child understand what to share and not share online and that things shared can have permanence?