One of the first steps is to be clear about why you are considering giving your child a mobile phone and what purpose it will serve – peer pressure can be a big factor in children wanting one, and they may be pestering you to say yes. They may feel left out if their friend group is communicating by text or in WhatsApp groups. 

Many parents feel reassured that their child has a way to get in touch while travelling to school, out and about with friends or going to sleepovers. 

For separated parents, there can be a positive to the child having an easy way to stay in touch when at the other parent’s home.

This all needs to be balanced with the risks of having a mobile phone: 

• Excessive screen time and distraction. 
• Impact on sleep – especially if using the phone close to bedtime, or keeping it in the bedroom overnight. 
• Exposure to inappropriate content, such as violence or pornography. 
• Access to social media that they may be too young for – many social media apps have an age restriction and social media can have an [impact on mental health – LINK] 
• Grooming
• Cyber bullying

You will need to consider your child as an individual, their emotional maturity and your specific family circumstances. 

Some parents consider a mobile phone important for safety once a child is old enough to travel to school on their own – for some children, this may be towards the end of primary school. 

Some families would give their child a mobile phone around the start of secondary school, while others may wait a few more years. It is now very common for homework to be online, or app-based, particularly at secondary school, so consider how your child will access this. 

Different ages may need different boundaries around phone use – for example, around screen time, parental controls, data usage and who pays for the data.

Things to consider: 

• Your child’s age and emotional maturity. 
• What would your child use it for? 
• Do they need a phone to access homework or schoolwork? 
• Is your child allowed out on their own, and do they need a means to stay in touch? 
• How will you manage screen time? 
• How will you keep your child safe online, or deal with the risks and types of content they might be exposed to? 
• Are you prepared to set boundaries and discuss the risks with them? 
• What would it cost, and who will pay for it? Not only the initial costs but for data, etc. 

Set sensible limits about screen time when it is appropriate for them to use their phones. Most primary schools have a complete ban on use of mobiles so this could include no use in the classroom, the dinner table or after lights out. 

Talk to them about cyber bullying and what is and isn’t acceptable to send. Let them know there will be real consequences for unacceptable use – such as taking the phone away for a period of time. And make sure you stick to this! 

It’s important to be able to talk openly about inappropriate content, so they know the dangers of people sharing intimate photos, or asking for them. Although it may seem that your child is too young for this conversation, it will help them to have clear boundaries and to know they can talk to you if something does happen. 

Be clear that, if things go wrong or they come across something that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should talk to you about it. 

Read more about keeping your child safe online.

Make sure that your teen understands that you need to know that they are safe and expect your calls or texts to be answered. You might want to use an app that helps you see their location and locate the phone if it is lost. 

As they get older, phones become a source of much social interaction, and can be important for keeping up with hobbies, extra-curricular activities and even schoolwork. You might need to adjust screen time restrictions, and check that their plans provide enough data. They should help take responsibility for checking their bills and accounting for their usage. It is reasonable to tell them you will not pay for more if they use it all up too quickly. 

Teens still need breaks from screen time, so you can have rules about putting the phone away at dinner time or family activities. You may decide not to allow their phone in the bedroom at night, particularly if you don’t trust them not to use it after bedtime. Research shows us that children or adults do not sleep as soundly if their phone is sitting by the bed – which makes us tired and less able to concentrate. 

Exposure to inappropriate content can still have a real impact on teens, even as they get older. Continue to have open conversations about the types of things they might see, and what to do if they see something they are uncomfortable with. 

Read more on talking to your teen about pornography. 

Read more on talking to your teen about sexting.

If you do chose to get your child a phone, you will also need to decide what phone is right for them. 

A smart phone will have internet access and apps. Some parents prefer the idea of a ‘dumb phone’ or ‘brick phone’ – an old-fashioned, basic model that only does text messages and calls. 

Particularly for pre-teens, a ‘dumb phone’ can provide a starting point, where they can stay in touch, but without the risks of internet access. However, this does mean they don’t have access to potentially useful features such as mapping apps, or WhatsApp groups with friends. 

Other parents prefer to choose a smart phone, but to manage their child’s safety with parental controls. 

Parental controls can help you manage things like what content or apps your child has access to, how much screen time they can have per day, what times they can use their device and who they can be in contact with. This could be set through your phone provider, or within social media or gaming accounts. 

To learn more about parental controls on different platforms and services, and get step-by-step guidance, visit Internet Matters’ parental controls guide.

• NSPCC guide to online safety
• NSPCC information on children and mobile phones
• Internet Matters

This page was reviewed by Rosemary Spillman, Head of National Services. Last reviewed October 2026.