The first-phone decision
What age should a kid get their first phone?
A birthday is easy to put on the calendar. A reason for a phone takes a little more thought. Before choosing an age, ask your child to describe the call they wish they could make without borrowing yours.
In this article
Start with the job, not the birthday
Write down the situation you want to solve. Calls to grandparents from the kitchen are different from checking in on the way home from school. A home phone can help with the first; it cannot travel with your child for the second.
There is no need to turn the decision into a vote on whether your child is “mature enough” for every feature of a smartphone. Choose the features they actually need.
Choose between home and on-the-go calling
- At home: a home phone gives them a shared or personal place to call from, without needing your mobile.
- Away from home: consider a portable calling device and check its coverage, contact controls and ongoing cost.
- Apps or messaging: discuss those separately. A calling need does not decide which apps are appropriate for your family.
Where does the call need to happen?
At home
A shared phone or home handset can give them a place to call from.
Out and about
They need a portable option with coverage where they will use it.
Then compare contacts, calling plans and emergency arrangements. A home phone cannot solve a portable calling need.
Practice the small things together
Can they answer a call, say who they are, leave a message and end a conversation politely? Start with familiar people and practice. Agree on where the phone belongs, when calls are welcome, and what to do if something feels wrong.
Make a separate emergency plan. Explain which devices can call emergency services and what happens if power or internet goes out.
Where Ring Ring fits
Ring Ring is a home phone. It needs power and internet, and parents manage approved contacts. It suits families looking for calls from home; it does not replace a device your child needs to carry.
Ring Ring’s Starter plan is $0/month for calls between connected Ring Ring members. Calling approved outside US numbers requires the paid plan: $8.95/month or $96.66 billed annually. Equipment is purchased separately. E911 requires the paid plan, a verified service address, power and internet.
Try a smaller first step
Pick a few people to call and a routine that fits your home. Then revisit the arrangement as your child’s needs change. The first phone does not have to be the last word.
Explore the first-phone guide for a closer look at the options.