Phones for kids
At some point in your child’s development , you may want them to have the ability to make calls and texts (from a phone other than yours!). You may want this both for safety and convenience. But at the same time you may want to restrict them from doing everything, or viewing everything that a modern smartphone can.
Good news, you have some great options!
Phone Options:
Pinwheel is an excellent service that runs on a range of Android Phones. It allows parents to allow or block from a large list of curated apps. Messages and calls can be reviewed by parents, and location can be tracked. Apps and contacts can be limited with a schedule. The parent can monitor from any phone (iPhone or Android).
The Bark phone is a full featured Android smartphone. It provides parents the ability to lock down, or monitor all your child’s activity. Included is the ability to monitor calls and texts, and to manage contacts. You can limit apps and set time limits. As the child’s needs change, you can enable more freedom. There are paid monthly plan options (one with apps and internet browsing, and the other without).
The Light Phone is simple, and long lasting “not smart” phone. It offers phone, alarm, podcasts, music, notes, timer, camera, direction, flashlight, and a removable battery. There are no 3rd party apps or distractions. You cannot use the phone to track a child’s location. But because there is no web browser, or apps, there is a very low risk of harmful content being viewed.
A simple phone with limited features: maps, photos, calls, texts, calculator calendar, camera, gallery. They advertise it as: “The world's smartest dumb phone.” No 3rd party apps can be installed. But there is the option to use it as a hotspot to connect another device to the internet such as a tablet or laptop. It is marketed to adults who want to unplug. But it is suitable for kids also who need just a bit more than simply call and texts.
An even simpler phone option, with a very long-lasting battery. Only calls, texts, and a music player. E-ink display. Flashlight. That’s it! Absolutely no distractions at all!
If you want a simple feature phone just to stay in touch and nothing else, this does just that!
If you love iPhones, and want your child to have the potential for more options on how they use their phone, Apple does provide the ability for parents to lock down apps, websites, add time restrictions, and limit app downloads and settings changes. If you want your child to use multiple Apple products together, and have the potential for more apps than just the basics, then an iPhone is an option - with family ‘Screen time’ restrictions carefully set. You might consider a cheaper model such as the iPhone SE. But the families features work with any iPhone available to purchase from Apple. Obviously because there is the potential for ‘more’ on this phone, it is higher risk overall than one of the ‘simpler’ options above that does not have the option for apps or browsing.
Overall, this option allows your child to do ‘more’ with the phone using apps. This is both positive, in terms of the phone being a useful tool, but also negative in that there is significantly more potential for misuse.
There is a risk of some of. the screen time settings being worked around, or a VPN. being setup to bypass filtering, and so we advise caution.
Watch Options:
An Apple Watch (with LTE) can give the wearer the ability to make calls and send and receive text messages. Parents can also track their child’s location. An Apple Watch does not have to be connected to an iPhone.
If you prefer a non-Apple watch that can make and receive calls and messages, and provides location tracking - the Google FitBit Ace LTE is a good option to evaluate. No phone is needed (for a child) for this watch to work. The parents should have a smartphone to track their child’s location.