What kind of a phone should I buy for my child?

If you are a parent thinking about buying a phone for your child and when to buy it, or whether you should choose a smartphone, a smartwatch or a basic phone, you can get help with making the decision. 

You can find expert advice on the purchase and safe use of smartphones in the digital recommendations of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). They apply to children and young people aged 0–13.

• A smartphone is not recommended for children in early education centres or starting school. 
• If you want to get a phone for a child aged 6–13, we recommend a phone with limited features, such as a smartwatch or basic phone designed for calls and messages only.
• You should delay buying a phone for your child until the child truly needs one in their everyday life. 
• Children should use smart devices under the guidance of their parents. This also allows you to monitor that your child is not exposed to harmful content.
• Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to use social media services, such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, Jodel and YouTube. Search engines, web browsers and AI applications should only be used to view content suitable for the age level.

The purpose of the recommendations on children’s screen time and the use of digital devices is to ensure the safe development and needs of children of different ages.

The wellbeing and balanced development of children requires face-to-face interaction, play, reading, physical activity, outdoor activities, regular meals and enough sleep, every day. Having too much screen time may take time away from these things.

Children also need a safe environment in which they are not exposed to harmful content that is inappropriate for their age and that they may encounter on the phone or online. 

Adults are always responsible for children’s safety. Parents decide on when to purchase a phone, set limits on the use of digital devices and ensure that their content is suitable for the child and that their use is balanced with other everyday activities. 

Small children do not need their own phone to learn digital skills. They can start practising how to use digital devices and operate in the digital world together with their parents, which also keeps screen time at a suitable level. 

Read more about THL’s screen time recommendations for children aged 0–13 years and what kind of digital content THL recommends for children of different ages(external link, opens in a new window).