Is my child ready to have their own phone?

Whilst you have made a clear decision, we would recommend completing this tool as our questions can help you to think through what this means for your family. The remaining questions can help you to consider things like how you will use safety settings and tackle conversations with your child about which apps they can use.

Many parents tell us they help them stay connected, particularly when their child starts to travel to school independently.

• There are many different options and safety tools that can help you to get the right phone for your child and family. If you would like support understanding these options, you could explore Vodafone's tool to help you choose a phone for your child from a wide range of options.

• We also have advice on how to establish important family rules and what safety conversations to have to build trust within your family. You will find this in our Trust Toolkit which will we share with you later in the tool.

• You may feel your child isn't old enough or doesn't need a phone yet.

• Reflecting on your reasons can help with future questions and explaining your decision to your child.

• Whilst you have made a clear decision, we would recommend completing this tool still as our questions can help you to think through what this means for your family.

Take time to weigh the pros and cons of your child having a phone whilst completing this tool. Consider:

• Whether your child is old enough.

• What needs your family has for staying connected.

• Children tell us they value having their opinions heard, especially on decisions that affect them.

• Understanding your child's feelings about phone use supports better decision-making for your family.

• Listening to how your child feels can help you to explain your decision, especially if you and your child disagree.

• It's important to recognise that peer pressure often influences children's desire for a phone. Addressing their concerns can ease tension and build trust.

• Make sure your child feels they've had a chance to share their views before decisions are made.

• Reassure them that they can talk to you openly and show interest in their thoughts and feelings even if they differ to your views.

• Open dialogue can be especially helpful when you disagree on phone ownership as you can address their concerns which builds trust and understanding.

• It's important to understand that peer pressure can influence their desire for a phone.

• Open dialogue can help you to explore alternative options such as family devices.

• Staying informed about online risks and maintaining open conversations with your child helps keep them safer as they explore the digital world.

• There can be risks in what children see online, who they talk to, app features like direct messaging, live-streaming, and algorithms which suggest new content and even their own behaviour online.

• We recommend you keep talking to your child about what they are doing online to understand their experiences.

• Risks evolve with new technology, so staying informed is important. You will find a list of helpful resources at the end of this tool.

Many parents say they feel overwhelmed by the risks children face online, particularly with the risks new technology can introduce. Children may face risks on social media and other platforms, including:

• What they might see.

• Who they might interact with.

• App features like direct messaging, live-streaming, and algorithm-driven content.

• Take time to educate yourself by regularly reviewing online safety guidance. You will find a list of helpful resources is available at the end of this tool to help you get started.

• Talk to your child about their online experiences.

• Reach out to your child's school for support and information and see if they offer sessions for parents on online safety.

• Ongoing conversations about their online experiences are important to build trust and help keep you inform.

• Speaking with your child regularly also shows your child that you are interested and there to support them.

• It's important to remember that children are growing up with the internet in a different way to how our generations would have experienced technology.

• Take an interest in what they are doing, allow them to teach you new skills online and explore safety settings together.

• Conversations little and often can also help a child to open up over time if they do need help.

• Many parents share they feel like their child knows more than them but you don't need to be an expert - just open to listening and learning.

• Ongoing conversations about their online experiences are important to build trust and help keep you informed.

• Speaking with your child regularly also shows your child that you are interested and there to support them.

• Take an interest in what they are doing, allow them to teach you new skills online and explore safety settings together.

• Conversations little and often can also help a child to open up over time if they do need help.

• It's important to stay curious and keep learning about new tools. Many platforms regularly introduce new safety settings, and this will likely continue with new regulation coming into force by Ofcom.

• You can use a combination of tools to help protect your child online, no single tool will block all risks across all devices.

• Safety settings can be applied to:

• Your home Wi-Fi.

• Your child's devices.

• Apps and games they use.

• Your child's phone network

• You'll find links to more advice on safety tools at the end of this tool.

• You don't need to be an expert - just open to learning.

• Types of tools and settings include:

• Parental controls - help you to manage what you child can see and when they can access the internet. They can be used on home Wi-Fi, through mobile network providers, and within apps/games.

• Safety, wellbeing, and privacy settings - help you to manage risks in what your child can see, who can chat with them and who can see what they share online. These can be turned on with your child on their devices and favourite apps/games.

• You can use a combination of tools; no single tool will block all risks across all devices.

• We'd recommend exploring the tools available to help you reach a decision that is right for your family:

• Visit Digital Parenting Pro to learn more about parental controls across popular apps and services.

• Explore activities under 'U' in our Trust Toolkit to learn more about the discussions you can have with your child about use of safety settings.

• You will find more guidance in the resources at the end of this tool.

• If you want help exploring features across devices that might be right for your child based on what you want them to have access to, you could explore Vodafone's tool to help you choose a phone for your child from a range of options.

• You don't need to decide on a phone now - just knowing your choices is helpful.

• Exploring the different phones and contracts available can help you to make a decision that is right for your family.

• Here is a summary of some options:

• Non smart phones allow communication but without access to apps like social media.

• Refurbished phones can be a more affordable option and make good first phones.

• Different phone types and contracts offer various safety features.

• Some smartphones allow limited functionality or parental control over features.

• You will find more guidance in the resources at the end of this tool.

• If you want help exploring features across devices then use Vodafone's tool to help you explore options that might be right for your family.

• You don't need to decide on a phone now - just knowing your choices is helpful.

• Managing your child's online usage does mean you will need to take steps at times that your child may not agree with.

• Open discussions and agreed family rules are especially helpful with older children.

• Regularly review family rules to make sure they still work for your family. It also helps identify where rules might need adjusting to better suit your family.

• You can use the activities in our TRUST toolkit, linked at the end of the tool, to help set your family rules.

• Role modelling your family rules can help reinforce healthy online habits.

• Take time to listen to your child and take an interest in their online experiences.

• Managing your child's online usage does mean you will need to take steps at times that your child may not agree with.

• Open discussions and agreed family rules are key, particularly with older children.

• Family rules could include:

• Choosing which apps are allowed.

• Avoiding device use during mealtimes.

• Charging devices away from the bed to support better sleep.

• You can use the activities in our TRUST toolkit, linked at the end of the tool, to help set your family rules.

• Role modelling your family rules can help reinforce healthy online habits.

• Visit Vodafone's Digital Parenting Pro for guidance on parental controls across popular apps and services.

• Having difficult conversations with your child isn't always easy, so confidence in doing so is valuable.

• Make sure you keep having regular conversations about online safety. Even without their own phone, children may access apps and games through family devices, friends, or school.

• Keep reminding your child how important their safety is and that you are always there to support them if something does happen online or offline.

• If you need to say no to an app or game you could explore alternative apps together or consider if access can be given by family devices where you can more easily manage how apps are used.

• Use app age requirements and reviews as a tool to help you explain why your child might not be ready to access them yet.

• Approaching conversations with openness and care helps build trust, especially when discussing your child's access to apps and games.

• Children often resist being told "no" without understanding the reasons. Openly sharing your concerns shows care and helps build trust.

• Make sure you keep having regular conversations about online safety. Even without their own phone, children may access apps and games through family devices, friends, or school.

• Keep reminding your child how important their safety is and that you are always there to support them if something does happen online or offline.

• If you need to say no to an app or game you could explore alternative apps together or consider if access can be given by family devices where you can more easily manage how apps are used.

• Use app age requirements and reviews as a tool to help you explain why your child might not be ready to access them yet.

• Feeling your child is ready for a phone suggests your family has a genuine need and feels prepared.

• Regularly checking parental advice can help guide ongoing conversations with your child.

• If you're unsure how to discuss certain topics, child-facing resources like Childline can help. Reading these resources together ensures you're covering the right topics in an age-appropriate way.

What to do next...

• We'd recommend using our TRUST toolkit activities and discussions as a family to help set you up for safe phone use.

• If you'd like some support in exploring different phone features and contracts, use our selection tool to discover the right phone for your child.

• Many schools have now introduced policies on phone use at school so it's important to familiarise yourself with your child's school policy. This should be available through the school website or by asking their teacher or school reception.

• Not feeling your child is ready suggests you might believe they're not old enough or there's no genuine need yet. This is an important decision, and recognising the timing isn't right is a key parental role.

• Keep having regular conversations about online safety, even if they don't have their own phone yet.

What to do next...

• Once you've decided, it's important to clearly communicate it to your child. Be firm but open to revisiting the decision in the future (e.g. when they travel independently).

• Acknowledge how your child may be feeling and be empathetic to any pressures they may be facing.

• In the meantime, consider letting your child use family devices with your support to access their favourite apps and games.

• Whether your child has a phone yet or not, we'd recommend getting to know your child's school policy on phones and online safety to help support them.

• Find out more information on how you can keep your children connected and protected with Vodafone Family

• You can visit Digital Parenting Pro to learn more about parental controls across popular apps and services.

• Feeling unsure suggests there may be a genuine need, but you're concerned about managing risks.

• It's normal to feel worried, and support is available to help you navigate this decision. Take time to explore the resources and advice provided to better understand the online world and its risks.

• Keep having regular conversations about online safety, even if your child doesn't have their own phone yet.

What to do next...

• A good next step is exploring the safety settings and options available to help you make a decision that is right for your family.

• You can visit Digital Parenting Pro to learn more about parental controls across popular apps and services.

• If you want a better understanding of different phones and their features, use our Help Me Choose tool to explore options that might be right for your child. This tool is always available to help you consider this decision and make the right choice for your family.

• We also recommend getting to know your child's school policy on phones as well to help you reach a decision that is right for your family.