A child’s first phone

The time for a child to get their first phone or other communication device varies from family to family. It is best not to rush the decision to buy a child their own smartphone. According to the new Finnish recommendations on the use of digital devices, smartphones are not recommended for children under the age of 13.

Instead of a smartphone, the child’s first personal device could be a children’s smartwatch or a basic phone, which allows the child to stay in touch with friends and family while avoiding the distractions and dangers of the internet. It is also not immediately necessary to purchase mobile data for the child’s smart device, which would enable internet access anywhere and at any time.

When a child gets their own mobile phone or smart device, they have to take care of a wide variety of things. They need guidance and boundaries from their parents, as well as plenty of reminders.

It is important that the devices used by the child, along with the environments and content they provide, are safe and appropriate for the child’s age and developmental level. It is also worth discussing the purchase of devices with other families and, if possible, finding a common approach.

Before giving a child their first mobile phone, parents should consider and discuss the following issues with their child:

• Why are they getting a phone or other device, and what will it be used for?
• What features does the device need?
• Will the device have internet access? If so, establish ground rules about what can, may and should be clicked on online.
• Which features are not necessary or appropriate for the child?
• Is it a good idea to set limits on the phone, such as a spending limit or security settings?
• Social media age restrictions must be observed.

A phone can provide a sense of security for both parents and children. Despite having a phone, the child may not always be reachable. When practising using the phone, the child may forget to charge it or leave it on silent mode. It may also be switched off, or the child may simply fail to notice it. Parents may worry unnecessarily if they are unable to reach their child when they try to contact them.

It is a good idea to tell the child that they may not always be able to reach their parent straight away. The child should therefore know whom they can call in these situations, and these numbers should be saved in the child’s phone.

Using a phone requires skills that need to be practised with a parent. Once a phone has been purchased, parents should also go through the following things with their child:

• What features does the phone have?
• How do you start and end a call?
• How do you send and receive messages?
• In what situations may or should the phone not be used?
• Where should the phone be kept at night?
• What should you do if a stranger calls or contacts you in some other way?
• How should you respond to various notifications on your phone?
• What are the school’s rules on the use of mobile phones by pupils?
• How do you make an emergency call?

The internet opens up new opportunities for children to interact, learn, find information and have fun. If your child has internet access on their phone, it is important to practise using the internet together. You should also talk about internet matters regularly. Go through at least the following things with your child:

• What kinds of apps or games can they download onto their phone?
• What can they do on different social media platforms?
• How do they manage privacy settings and privacy in different apps?
• What makes a good password? Remind your child not to share their password with others.
• What kinds of websites is the child allowed to visit?
• What kinds of photos can the child take and share?
• How do they search for information and use search engines safely?
• What should they do if they come across something upsetting or scary online? Remind them that they can tell you about any experiences they have online.

On social media, children also practise their friendship and communication skills. If your child uses social media and their class has shared WhatsApp groups, for example, talk about what it means to be a good friend online and practise appropriate communication together.

Parents should also talk with their child about being polite on the phone and considerate of others when messaging and chatting online.

It is worth advising the child on what to do if they are bullied via their phone or if they notice someone else being bullied. Ask the child to tell an adult if they are being called names or threatened, so that the issue can be resolved together. Talk to your child about bullying, even if it does not directly concern your family. Explain that bullying is never okay.

Looking after a phone involves keeping it in a safe place, ensuring it is charged, and switching it off or putting it on silent when it is not allowed to be used.

It is worth reminding the child that for a young pupil, travelling alone to and from school in traffic is already challenging enough. They should not be focused on their phone on the way.

Finnish recommendations on the use of digital devices for children aged 0–13 were published in January 2026.