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When should parents give their child a phone?

(From far left) Trina Shah, four, and her twin sisters, Tiara and Tania Shah, eight, all have mobile phones. Sisters Gayle Jiow (left), nine, and Genevieve Jiow, 12, with a mobile phone that they share. Ms Kavitha Velayutham gave her daughter Tejaswi
Sisters Gayle Jiow (left), nine, and Genevieve Jiow, 12, with a mobile phone that they share.ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
(From far left) Trina Shah, four, and her twin sisters, Tiara and Tania Shah, eight, all have mobile phones. Sisters Gayle Jiow (left), nine, and Genevieve Jiow, 12, with a mobile phone that they share. Ms Kavitha Velayutham gave her daughter Tejaswi
(From far left) Trina Shah, four, and her twin sisters, Tiara and Tania Shah, eight, all have mobile phones. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Experts say there are no hard and fast rules on when a child should be given a smartphone and that it depends on the child's maturity

Published: 
Mar 11, 2018, 5:00 am SGT
venessal@sph.com.sg

Many children have their own mobile phones these days. But how young is too young for a child to join the ranks of screen-swipers and app-users?

Experts say there are no hard and fast rules, though parents should set boundaries and monitor usage.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 11, 2018, with the headline 'When to give your child a phone'. Print Edition | Subscribe
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