Is Your Kid Ready For Their First Phone?

Your kid may not be hyped about going back to school, but chances are they’ll be excited to go shopping. Picking up new supplies is a great way to help them feel prepared for the new year. But as your kid gets older, you may notice their wish lists changing a bit. Instead of gravitating toward sparkly notebooks or superhero backpacks, more and more tweens are eyeing back-to-school phone deals.

When is my kid ready for their first phone?

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, says Kyla Murray, a children’s life coach and owner of the Confident Kids Collective. It’s not really about age as much as it is about development. “You need to look at whether they’re responsible enough to handle a device and all that entails,” explains the mom of three. Consider whether they’re able to look after their belongings, make rational decisions, pick up on social cues and respect screen-time limits at home and at school.

Children also need to understand the benefits and the risks of technology; your child is never too young to learn what a healthy relationship with technology looks like. You are their first and most important influencer, so role-modelling thoughtful tech habits is key: Be intentional, create boundaries, normalize screen-free time and own your mistakes. As kids get older, you can introduce topics like online safety, privacy, self-regulation and addiction.

Parents also need to take a close look at whether they’re ready to support their kids through this journey. It’s not an easy one; you may need to periodically review and re-establish rules, use monitoring tools and sometimes enforce consequences.

Does my kid need a phone?

Phones tend to get a bad rap, but they can actually be a good stepping stone to fostering maturity and independence. As kids get older, a phone allows them to bolster social connections, whether that’s calling friends to make plans for in-person meet-ups or texting. Kids without phones also can't join group chats with friends and teammates, which can lead to them feeling left out and isolated.

A phone also allows parents to check in to ensure their kid got home after school or to communicate if plans have changed. For Murray, getting her tween a phone was something that arose out of necessity when her daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. It wasn’t something she had been considering at the time, but she says the benefit has far outweighed the risk. They’re both able to monitor her blood sugar in real time to stay ahead of lows, and it’s given her peace of mind.

And whether you like it or not, many schools are moving toward digital classrooms where teachers post information about assignments and extra material, and kids can ask questions and coordinate on projects. Having a phone can help them stay on top of their schedules and manage their time accordingly. (Speaking of learning: It’s important that you and your child are familiar with your province or territory’s rules around devices while at school.)

How can I keep my kid safe?

It's key to have ongoing honest conversations about screens, social media and well-being. Kids need to know what clickbait is, what to do if they see something inappropriate, how to manage notifications and think critically about what they see online (it can be hard to distinguish what’s real and what’s AI).

And remember that smartphone readiness doesn’t equal perfection. “Mistakes happen, and it’s easy to come across something inappropriate completely innocently,” Murray explains. She emphasizes the importance of parental controls as another layer of security. Putting these protections in place from the start means you can set screen-time limits, control which apps your kid can download, monitor their location, block certain features and even lock their phone from yours.

It’s important to also look out for signs of unhealthy behaviours associated with phone use; kids may be more at risk of phone addiction, cyberbullying and depression. Be wary of changes in behaviour (irritability, low mood, disinterest in other hobbies), physical symptoms (headaches, neck pain, eye strain, poor sleep), children isolating themselves and kids being secretive with their phones.

What should I look for in a phone and phone plan?

Deciding that you’re ready to purchase a phone for your kid can be stressful, but you have options. Doing a trial run is a great way to see whether your tween is ready to take on this responsibility. Fizz offers parents exactly that: Fizz’s flexible plans are available with no long-term contracts, so you won’t get locked in to something that doesn’t work for you, and plans can be changed once a month, with updates applying to your next billing cycle, so it’s easy to scale up or down as your needs change.

Fizz also understands the importance of a budget-friendly option. According to a study from the Retail Council of Canada, the average Canadian family spends between $600 and $750 per child on back-to-school shopping. So you’ll be relieved to learn that Fizz has a variety of preloved phones to choose from (your wallet can thank us later). Better yet, look for a phone with a purple sticker: These devices can save you up to 70 per cent off your plan.

Plus, Fizz features perks that just make sense for families. Leftover data? Unused data carries forward. You can also “gift” data between Fizz members so parents can top up one kid—or even themselves—from another user’s plan. And finally, Fizz’s loyalty program lets you redeem rewards to save on your monthly bill or even get free data.

Ready to get started? Check out fizz.ca to learn more about their great deals and uncompromising service.