Cell phones are an absolute necessity for kids nowadays. While most kids get their first cell phone in their teenage years, they usually get acquainted with these devices much earlier. The way they use the device is what changes as they get older.
The main difference between how teenagers and younger children use their phones is that teenagers use social media apps more while younger children just use the device for basic communication. Younger children mainly use their phones to make calls or send texts through various apps. However, both teenagers and young children can be monitored by their parents through parental apps.
What are kids' phones?
First off, we need to establish what makes a phone good for kids. These phones come with different specs and functions depending on what the parents are looking for. They could be the latest models with modern features or basic reliable phones with features limited to calling, texting and GPS location indicators.
Age is one of the main factors to consider when choosing a model for kids. Teenagers strongly prefer smartphones with modern-day features because they use a lot of social media and other apps. Pre-teens are more suited for phones that are “old school.” These are models that usually aren’t equipped with the latest hardware or software. They focus on primary and basic features instead.
There’s also one other type of phone that works well for kids. It’s GPS enabled and has a walkie-talkie function. It provides instant communication and location tracking for parents to monitor their kids. That being said, all these phones have their pros and cons. You need to consider several things when choosing one.
Cost: Cost is a critical factor. At the end of the day, children are children. They can be prone to breaking things, whether it's their phone or their toys. Kids’ phones should be affordable and inexpensive.
Durability: The device needs to be tough to last long with a kid. A sturdy build and an IP rating with resistance to water, shock and dust will save you from a lot of stress and repair costs.
Battery Life: Battery life is also important. Long battery life can be quite convenient for both kids and parents. It provides more standby time and talk time for the device. Kids can also forget to charge their phones, especially when they’re distracted by other things or are busy playing.
Supports Modern Network Technology: You need a kid’s phone that supports 4G or higher. A device that can’t support this would be obsolete. Most carriers are switching to the newer networks and are ending their support for the older ones. Moreover, the models with faster data rates have much better location accuracy as well as calling and texting features.
At what age should kids get a phone?
There are differing opinions among parents as to what the best age is for kids to get their first phone. Nowadays, cell phone use is relatively high among children due to the time limitations and other responsibilities of their parents. Their parents can’t always keep an eye on them and check if they're spending too much time on their phones.
We, however, believe in moderation. Overusing things can have harmful effects, and this definitely applies to our phones. Too much screen time is bad for a child’s mental health, and it can have an impact on the child's overall health and physiology. Strict routines and a plan to curtail excessive phone use is necessary.
Kids nowadays will need a phone by the time they start developing their social lives. This will involve things like getting into sports, having extracurricular activities and hanging out with friends. This usually starts in their teen years but may start even earlier for some.
Societal pressure and the influence of others are contributing factors for the early use of phones in kids nowadays. Moreover, there are more young kids who use public transport on their own. A device that can provide instant communication and location tracking would be the best way for their parents to look out for them. Other than that, there are single parents who want a separate way of talking to their kids, so a kid’s phone would also come in handy for them.
Why do kids under 13 need phones?
While modern technology is rapidly evolving and old processes are becoming more efficient, time management still remains a big issue for many of us. Many parents are busier than ever, while more and more kids are beginning to do things independently.
These kids use all kinds of public transport, join different activities, attend various events and meet all kinds of people. For all that, mobile phones truly remain the best device for their parents or guardians to stay connected. It provides the easiest way for them to be monitored and a way to call for help in case of an emergency.
Moreover, keeping parents updated tends to instill a sense of responsibility in kids. It lets them feel more confident and connected to their parents while they’re away.
Key features of kid’s phones that are different from smartphones:
There are several things that set kids’ phones apart from the typical smartphone, but one thing needs to be understood first. There are different kinds of kids' phones, and they usually correlate to the age group of the kid. For teenagers, smartphones would usually be the best choice.
For young kids and pre-teens, however, a smartphone may not necessarily be the best. The phones best suited for kids in these age groups are different from the typical smartphone in several ways, and have unique features that aren’t available on smartphones.
Some of these features include:
Smaller Size: They’re smaller than most smartphones and usually fit in the pockets of young kids. They’re easy to carry around and are easy to hold for young kids.
Durability: They’re tougher and more durable than smartphones. They don't have any glass panels or glass bodies, and they’re made with plastic, which is more durable than glass. Their extra casing also gives more protection to the phone.
Longer Battery: The smaller screen size and less power-consuming apps allow longer battery life. The standby time is much longer than that of smartphones.
Physical keypad and separate emergency button: One distinguishing feature of kids' phones is the physical keypad. Kids find them easier to use because they won’t have to navigate through different menus. The buttons are efficient enough for them and the dedicated emergency button is highly convenient.
Price: They’re affordable and less expensive than smartphones, so parents don't have to stress as much when buying them. They’re also easier to repair and are lower maintenance than smartphones.
How to make your old smartphone more suitable for kids
Your old smartphone will make an excellent kid’s phone. It may have all the necessary features and should be able to run most apps. However, some measures ought to be taken first before handing it over to your kid.
Smartphones are usually not suitable for kids who can use them without limitations. According to several studies, about 70% of kids nowadays get exposed to pornography, whether by accident or intentionally. And almost the same amount of children who share explicit content with their friends have also posted sexual content. To avoid these things, parents need to use parental controls and implement measures to avoid them.
Some of these measures are:
Monitoring through the Google Family Link app:
The Internet plays a vital role in educating and helping children with their studies, however, it comes with things that are inappropriate for them to see. These things can have a terrible impact on their mental health and development. Proper monitoring is therefore essential to prevent these problems.
Google Family Link is the best and most readily available method that can be used to monitor children's activities on their smartphones. It allows parents to filter or restrict content, set time limits on mobile usage and keep track of the location and data usage.
It’s easy to set up and available online. It has multiple options to monitor and track children's activities. This app is helpful and practical if you plan to give your older smartphone to your kids.
Parental control for iOS:
If you plan to give your old iOS device to your kid, the iOS parental control will let you control different apps and functions. This will help prevent any misuse of the device.
Its features include:
- Content and privacy restrictions
- Prevention of iTunes and App store purchase
- Prevention of explicit content and search
- Prevention of certain web content
- Restriction of web search with Siri
- Restriction of the game center
- Parental controls for Android
Parental control for Android:
Like iOS devices, Android devices also have parental controls, preventing overuse of the internet and indulging in unnecessary activities.
Its features include:
- Parental controls for apps and games
- Parental control for movies
- Parental control for T.V.
- Parental control for books and music
Smartwatches for kids vs smartphone for kids
Smartwatches for kids are an unconventional but useful way to communicate with them and keep track of their location. These watches are very easy to carry around and require minimum effort to operate. Smartphones, on the other hand, are handheld devices. They’re bigger and have more functions. They have significantly more space for different apps, and they allow calling, texting and other services.
When would a smartwatch be better?
Smartwatches provide some of the functions of a smartphone and can be useful for kids in a few ways. They’re much easier to carry around and have specially designed functions for children, they can reduce screen time considerably and limit gaming activities and they’re the best alternative to smartphones in terms of connectivity, traceability and location updates.
When would a phone be better?
Phones are better for children above the age of eight. By this age, a child will have an easier time carrying the device and using it. The straightforward interface and buttons will make it easy for young kids to use.
The best kid phone to buy:
Nowadays, it’s imperative to equip your kids with a good phone. First and foremost, it lets you keep in contact with them at all times. It allows them to reach you in emergency situations and helps you look out for their safety. Second, it gives them a sense of responsibility and can help boost their confidence. There are many kids’ phones available in the market, both conventional and unconventional. However, the best phone is the one that checks all the boxes.
These are:
- Compactness in size
- Suitable hardware and easy to use software
- Long Battery life
- Affordability
- Supports 4G
- Durable and reliable
- Physical buttons
- Has an SOS button
Now that we’ve established that, these are our top picks for kid’s phones.
The VoicePing P-one is the best kid phone available in the market. Its compact design along with the latest features makes it an excellent kid’s phone. It is marketed as an easy-to-use mobile phone that is loaded with Android features. It's best for a kid, has a simplistic design and physical button keypad, a larger display with android apps integration.
Some of its notable features include:
- Technology: It supports 4G
- Screen Size: 2.4 inch touch screen with 240x320 pixel ratios
- Rear Camera: 8 MP
- Battery Life: 4 days of standby time and 8 hours talk time
- Storage: 8 GB, expandable to 32 GB via SD card
- Dimensions: 135mm x 60mm x20.8mm
- Weight: 210g
- Price: Approximately 120 dollars
- Works on: AT&T and T-Mobile
The P-One is a candy bar style phone that prioritizes connectivity by providing both conventional and the latest apps. Kids can enjoy group calls through Android apps like Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and more.
It is GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, and has a robust protective body casing, IP54 rating and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Other kids’ phones for you in 2022
Here are some other great kids’ phones that are currently available in the market.
The Jitterbug flip 2 is a flip design phone that has a sleek design, a slightly large display and a physical button keypad. One of its main features is the LED display Android OS support. Flip phone models are currently popular among younger kids due to their design and aesthetics. It runs an android OS, which allows you to install apps of your choice from the Play Store.
Some of its notable features include:
- Technology: It supports 4G
- Screen Size: 3.2 inches with 480x320 pixel ratios
- Rear Camera: 8 MP rear camera, 5 MP Front camera
- Battery Life: 12 hours of talk time
- Storage: 16 GB
- Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.19 x 0.75 inches
- Weight: 134 grams
- Price: Approximately 100 dollars
- Works on: AT&T
- OS: Android
It also has Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a dedicated emergency button and a dock charger. It has Alexa pre-installed for more accessible voice controls.
The Xplora X5 play-watch phone truly has a unique design of its own. It’s a watch phone that can make calls, send texts and share location via GPS. Its Wi-Fi compatibility also comes in handy for making and receiving calls.
Some of its notable features include:
- Technology: It supports 4G
- Screen Size: 1.4 inches
- Rear Camera: 2 MP
- Battery Life: 0.5 hours of talk time
- Storage: 4 GB
- Dimensions: 48.5 x 45 x 15 mm
- Weight: 54 grams
- Price: Approximately 200 dollars
- Works on: T-Mobile
- OS: Android
It also has GPS safety zones (geo-fencing), an IP68 rating (up to 1.5 m waterproof) and an SOS button for emergencies.
The Jethro SC490 is a sleek, candy bar design phone with a slightly large display and a physical button keypad. It can also be used with a hearing aid and a dock charger.
Some of its notable features include:
- Technology: It supports the 4G
- Screen Size: 2.8 inches with 240x320 pixel ratios
- Rear Camera: 2 MP
- Battery Life: 3 to 5 hours of talk time
- Storage: 8 GB
- Dimensions: 5.4 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches
- Weight: 114 grams
- Price: Approximately 95 dollars
- Works on: AT&T and T-Mobile
- OS: Android
It also has Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a dock charger and a dedicated emergency button.
The Nokia 225 4has a sleek form and a physical button keypad. Its main features are a premium design and the reliable quality you get with Nokia phones. It runs a KaiOS.
Some of its notable features include:
- Technology: It supports 4G
- Screen Size: 2.4 inches with 240x320 pixel ratios
- Rear Camera: 0.3 MP
- Battery Life: 6 hours of talk time
- Storage: 0.13 GB
- Dimensions: 4.91 x 2.01 x 0.54 inches
- Weight: 91 grams
- Price: Approximately 45 dollars
- Works on: AT&T
- OS: KaiOS
It also has Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, FM radio and a dedicated button for emergency assistance.
Conclusion:
Kids' phones are a great device for staying connected to your children, however, the best type of phone for them will depend on their age group.
Younger kids and pre teens are suited for phones with an unconventional design and basic features such as calling, texting and location sharing. Other models that generally go well with this age group are “old school” compact phones that are user-friendly.
Teenagers are more suited for smartphones. They don’t need the latest models, and can use their parent’s old smartphones. Parents can also monitor their phones with various parental apps.