Experts say waiting to give your kids a smartphone could help protect your child\u2019s health.<\/p>\n
Parents often feel pressure to give their kids a smartphone because their classmates already have one. But experts say waiting could help protect your child\u2019s health.\n<\/p>\n
Kids who get smartphones by age 12 are more likely to struggle with depression, poor sleep and weight issues, according to a Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia study<\/a> that looked at smartphone use by 10,000 kids between 2018 and 2021.<\/p>\n Researchers found that the earlier a child gets a smartphone, the greater the risks.<\/p>\n \u201cDelaying a smartphone, especially during middle school \u2026 may actually reduce the risk of some of these issues,\u201d said Dr. Anisha Abraham, chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children\u2019s National Hospital in D.C., and an ambassador for the American Academy of Pediatrics\u2019 Center of Excellence on Youth Mental Health and Social Media.<\/p>\n Abraham said phones often keep kids up late scrolling and texting, which can hurt school performance and mood.<\/p>\n \u201cSleep is really important for well-being. There\u2019s a very strong connection between sleep and being able to feel good. It certainly puts you at higher risk for depression or other mental health issues when you don\u2019t get adequate sleep,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n While all kids are different, Abraham recommends delaying smartphone use until after middle school, starting slow with phones that don\u2019t have all the apps or creating rules like no phones in bedrooms.<\/p>\n Experts also suggest creating clear limits before giving a child a phone. This should include setting guidelines for dinner table use and homework time.<\/p>\n Also use privacy and content settings on phones to help prevent your child from seeing material they shouldn\u2019t, Abraham said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are parental controls that limit the amount of time that a young person can be on their phone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Regular check-ins are also important, and encouraging your kids to spend time away from screens for physical activity can help protect mental health and prevent obesity.<\/p>\n Abraham also urged parents to lead by example by putting their own phones down as well.<\/p>\n \u201cMealtimes are a perfect example to make sure you\u2019re modeling that behavior,\u201d Abraham said. \u201cParents and caregivers need to be models, and it\u2019s not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n More tips can be found on the American Academy of Pediatrics website<\/a>.<\/p>\n