5 Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
July 27, 2018This post is sponsored by Trademore. I was paid for this post. All opinions are mine alone.
Nowadays kids are getting phones at earlier ages than ever… and for good reason! It’s the best way to keep in touch with your child during the day. Last year, I noticed that one of our neighbors’ kids had a smartphone and he was just a few years older than Sophia! Needless to say, she has been begging me for her own phone ever since. I am actually planning on getting her a smart phone within the next year or so and I’ve been doing a ton of research on the best way to go about the whole process. Today, I’ll be sharing some of my best tips from properly setting up parental controls to purchasing a pre-owned phone from Trademore.
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
1. Establish boundaries for phone use!
Getting a new phone is a big responsibility for a child so it’s important to make sure that all expectations are clearly laid out ahead of time. Make it clear that you, as the parent, own the phone. Make it clear that the child needs to share all passwords (for apps, social media sites, emails, etc.) with you. Also, make it clear that all phone use must be done in public rooms of the house (like the kitchen or living room) and only during the day. By setting clear expectations ahead of time and writing down all the rules, you will reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings down the road.
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
2. Choose an affordable phone!
Let’s face it… kids lose things all the time! Don’t purchase a brand new phone for them and risk losing hundreds of dollars when they misplace it. Instead, consider a pre-owned smartphone that is both affordable and reliable. I recently discovered Trademore and it’s the perfect resource for finding top-of-the-line smartphones for a fraction of the cost of the new models. What a cost-effective way to introduce your child to a new device!
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
I love that Trademore strives to create a positive customer experience. Whether you’re trying to capitalize on the value of your old phone and trade it in or purchase a pre-owned phone for your child (or for yourself), Trademore is dedicated to customer service.
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
On the Trademore site, there is a wide variety of high-quality devices all offered at competitive prices. What I really love is that all devices must pass a 30-point functional and cosmetic inspection. This checks for quality, reliability and functionality. Each phone sold via their site receives a 100% inspection score. The phones are indeed #TrademoreCertified!
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
Once you choose your phone, your order will be delivered quickly via free 2-day shipping. Talk about convenience! If your child is ready for his/her own phone, be sure to check out Trademore today!
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
3. Set up parental controls!
To restrict kids from accessing inappropriate material online, parental controls are essential. Most smartphones nowadays come with built-in controls, but you could also download a free app to set even more stringent controls. With the right controls in place, you can restrict almost every aspect of a child’s time on their phone… from which apps they use to website search results and more!
Tips for Buying your Child’s First Phone
4. Model proper phone use!
Want to check your social media account over dinner? Resist the urge! Your child is watching you and will mimic your behavior over time. By modeling proper phone use, you will teach your child that the phone should not be used during meals. Additionally, talking loudly on the phone in public is considered rude so model the proper behavior. For example, if you have to take a call in a quiet library or bookstore, step outside for a few minutes.
5. Monitor phone activity!
Don’t be shy about monitoring your child’s internet history, the apps downloaded, the games played, the videos watched and more. See who they’re texting with and what they’re texting. Always keep the lines of communication open and encourage them to come to you with any questions about appropriate phone use.
Don’t forget to check out the pre-owned phone selection at Trademore for your child (or yourself)! At what age do you think kids are ready for their own smart phones?
My blog post may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies. These affiliate links are not associated with Trademore.
Establishing boundaries and setting up parental controls are great tips when purchasing a child’s first phone. All of these tips are spot on, especially monitoring phone activity.
I haven’t heard of this company but I need to get my son a new phone before school begins so I will check into it. As for the phone in the picture, it is my dream phone and I have been wanting a pink phone forever but didn’t like the prices of them.
I would love to get one of these phones because my kids have gone through more phones than me and my husband. This is such a great service and good for recycling all the older phones.
Thanks for the tips! My son has been asking for a phone. But I haven’t decided yet to let him get one or not. This is great info to think about!
Yes, my daughter has been asking for one, too!
I think the appropriate age for a child to get a cell phone varies depending on the child and the situation. I hadn’t heard of Trademore but cell phones can be very expensive so saving on one is always a good thing.
I love the idea of a child having a phone for safety purposes. I think these tips will help that parent who is doing this for the first time, too.
Yes, it’s so important nowadays! Thanks for stopping by, Terri!
These are good tips to have when the time comes. I’m not ready for either of them to have phone! lol
Great post! have to look into this site. I’m in the market to purchase a phone for my son and I love that the offer a preloved section.
Yes, this site is a great resource! High quality phones at affordable prices… what’s not to love?! 🙂
These sound like some great tips, I can only imagine that is it a big thing getting a first phone for kids and parents.
Very different from back when I got a first one and you had to top up credit and when it was gone it was gone.
Good to know! My kids both have phones. My son will need a new one soon because his is dying. I’ll look into Trademore!
Definitely! 🙂
Phones are SO expensive, and this is such a great way to buy one for a child/tween/teen. My daughter is 12, and already has her first one, but we will use them to trade up to something better later on.
Trademore sounds like a really cool online store for buying second hand gadgets for the kids. This post is also a good guideline for parents who are clueless about buying their kids their first ever phone.
Such great tips for phone use. We have those same rules in our house, even kids who spend the night have to turn in their phones at the end of the night, aren’t allowed to use the phones in any bedrooms or bathrooms and most of the time they don’t mind following the rules. I had no idea about Trademore – I’ll have to check them out because my kids want newer phones.
Great tips! my eldest is 14 and has had a phone for a long time. My youngest three are 4, 5 and 6 and wont be having a phone for a long time yet! I will bear these in mind though!
When did you get your oldest his/her first phone?
I bought my son’s first phone for his 13th birthday last month. I got it used because there is no way I’m spending $600+ on a new one. I don’t even have a new one, lol! Trademore sounds great, I have to check them out!
I agree… spending that much on a new phone is ridiculous. Much better to buy a pre-owned one!
We got our children their phones this year but before giving it to them, we sat down with them and talk to them about dos and don’ts. It”s so important that they understand the rules.
Something to really think about when buying your child’s first phone. I love that there’s a secure online site where you can get second hand phones without worrying about getting scammed or anything like that.
These are all great tips on buying your kid their first phone! I will have to pass this post off to my mommy friends!!
Thanks, Ricci! Hope these tips help!
These are such great tips. My daughters both have phones and had them young. I think it depends on the child. 🙂 I will pass this on to a friend who is deciding.