When to give kids first phone is among hardest decisions for parents

Tough call! Deciding when to let your child have their first mobile phone is one of the hardest decisions a parent will make, research shows

• Poll showed 36 per cent of parents find it as hard as choosing their child’s school

Choosing when to give children their first mobile phone is now one of the hardest decisions a parent or carer will make, according to research.

The poll of parents with children aged eight to 17 revealed that 36 per cent find it as hard as choosing which school their children should go to.

A total of 29 per cent found it more difficult than deciding who their children should be playing with.

But the decision most parents (56 per cent) find hardest is when to allow their children to go to the park or shops by themselves.

The survey of 1,000 parents was conducted by Vodafone UK to launch a new partnership with the NSPCC, providing tips for children’s safety online.

Choosing when to give children their first mobile phone is now one of the hardest decisions a parent or carer will make, according to research (stock image)

It found 74 per cent of parents and carers think it is important for a child to have a phone when they start secondary school but more than half (56 per cent) worry about them having one.

The NSPCC said 10 per cent of calls to its helpline last year focused on mobiles or online platforms, highlighting safety concerns about technology before the new school term.

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