The best age to give your child a smart phone, according to Bill Gates

He’s the world’s richest man and the creator of the modern computer industry, so it goes without saying that Bill Gates knows what he’s talking about when it comes to technology. So when he reveals the best age for smart phone ownership by kids, you know you better listen!

In a recent interview, Mr Gates was asked about the best age for smart phone ownership by children. He revealed that kids should not be allowed to own a smartphone until they are at least 14 years old. 

Parenting and tech experts have praised Mr Gates, in the light of research that consistently highlights the downside of exposing kids to technology and the internet at a young age. 

Best age for smart phone: Bill and Melinda’s tech rules for their kids

• They banned their three kids from owning mobile phones until they were 14. 
• Screen time is limited, giving them more time together as a family. 
• No phones are allowed at the tables during meals. 
• They enforce a ‘knock-off’ time for screen times every day, meaning their kids go to bed at a decent hour. 

The best age for smart phone ownership by a child is when they are at least 14 years old.

Why too much screentime is bad for kids

Yes, it’s really annoying when you’re trying to get your kid’s attention and he won’t even look at you because he’s too busy staring at a screen. But the damaging effects of too much screentime go deeper than this. 

• It opens up the dark and dangerous corners of the internet and exposes your child to online dangers such as predators, bullying and dangerous games and challenges. 
• It can affect the brain development of young children. 
• It may make children lazy. For example, when a child listens to his mum telling him a story, he has to use a lot of cognitive processes to visualise and understand the story. A tablet, on the other hand, will do this processing for him. 
• It can have an impact on his social development and health, making it hard for him to make ‘real’ friends. 
• It creates addictive behaviour which can have a negative impact on your child, through his lifetime. 

Mums and dads, we’re not saying screentime is bad. There are plenty of great apps and educational games, songs and stories that help with your child’s development. 

The key is to set rules – much as you would for most other parenting matters – and be strict about enforcing these and making sure your child sticks to them. 

This article is republished with permission from theAsianParent. 

Share with us – what are your screentime rules for your children?