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Judgement call ; On average, children get their first phone at 10. LISA SALMON asks the experts about the pros and cons of kids having a mobile so... [South Wales Echo (UK)](South Wales Echo (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Judgement call ; On average, children get their first phone at 10. LISA SALMON asks the experts about the pros and cons of kids having a mobile so young and finds out how to keep unexpected bills to a minimum IIT'S a modern parenting dilemma - when do you give your child their first mobile phone? Sooner rather than later, it would seem, as new research suggests more than half of children aged 10 or under (52%) have a mobile phone, and the majority (90%) of kids aged eight to 14 own one. T'S a modern parenting dilemma - when do you give your child their first mobile phone? Sooner rather than later, it would seem, as new research suggests more than half of children aged 10 or under (52%) have a mobile phone, and the majority (90%) of kids aged eight to 14 own one. The study by comparison site broadbandchoices.co.uk found that 10 was the average age that children get their first phone. The study by comparison site broadbandchoices.co.uk found that 10 was the average age that children get their first phone. And whatever the age of the mobile-owning child, almost half expect to spend more than twice as long on their phone over the summer school holidays, using it for an extra two or more hours per day to call and text, play games, use social media and messaging apps. And whatever the age of the mobile-owning child, almost half expect to spend more than twice as long on their phone over the summer school holidays, using it for an extra two or more hours per day to call and text, play games, use social media and messaging apps. But while parents may worry about the time children spend on their phones, the fact is that mobiles can serve a useful purpose for parents. A separate study by Netmums and the online mobile phone retailer e2save found that parents'main motivation for buying phones for their children was emergencies and safety, with around half of the phones bought for children aged between nine and 14 years purchased for this reason. But while parents may worry about the time children spend on their phones, the fact is that mobiles can serve a useful purpose for parents. A separate study by Netmums and the online mobile phone retailer e2save found that parents'main motivation for buying phones for their children was emergencies and safety, with around half of the phones bought for children aged between nine and 14 years purchased for this reason. Communication and keeping tabs on their child's whereabouts were also important factors, accounting for 39% of motivations to buy a phone for Communication and keeping tabs on their child's whereabouts were also important factors, accounting for 39% of motivations to buy a phone for nine to 11-year-olds, and 29% for those aged between 12 and 14. nine to 11-year-olds, and 29% for those aged between 12 and 14. "Most of the time parents are giving mobile phones to children because of safety and keeping in touch," agrees Jeremy Todd, chief "Most of the time parents are giving mobile phones to children because of safety and keeping in touch," agrees Jeremy Todd, chief executive of the parenting charity Family Lives. executive of the parenting charity Family Lives. "Our main concern is if the phone is just being used as a pacifier, to keep children quiet." "Our main concern is if the phone is just being used as a pacifier, to keep children quiet." " While most parents (45%) think their child only spends up to one hour per day on their mobile, almost a quarter of kids admitted to spending up to four or more hours per day using it. Indeed, 15% of children said they'd give up food and sleep in favour of playing on their mobile, while nearly a quarter (23%) were willing to give up seeing friends face-to-face to use their phone more. " While most parents (45%) think their child only spends up to one hour per day on their mobile, almost a quarter of kids admitted to spending up to four or more hours per day using it. Indeed, 15% of children said they'd give up food and sleep in favour of playing on their mobile, while nearly a quarter (23%) were willing to give up seeing friends face-to-face to use their phone more. Children predominantly use their mobiles for making calls, texting, playing games and using social apps such as Facebook and Twitter, the survey found. Children predominantly use their mobiles for making calls, texting, playing games and using social apps such as Facebook and Twitter, the survey found. Todd says: "Kids aren't necessarily gaming on their Todd says: "Kids aren't necessarily gaming on their mobiles, they're staying in touch with friends, so them using mobile phones doesn't necessarily have to be perceived as a bad thing. mobiles, they're staying in touch with friends, so them using mobile phones doesn't necessarily have to be perceived as a bad thing. "But if they're gaming all day long on their phone, they need to be encouraged to try a variety of other things too, including playing outside." "But if they're gaming all day long on their phone, they need to be encouraged to try a variety of other things too, including playing outside." " However, aside from gaming, the survey found there's a more worrying aspect of children's mobile phone use - 5% admit they use their mobile phone to shop online and make in-app purchases - often without their parent's knowledge. " However, aside from gaming, the survey found there's a more worrying aspect of children's mobile phone use - 5% admit they use their mobile phone to shop online and make in-app purchases - often without their parent's knowledge. That's in addition to the Pounds 30-plus a month that one in 10 children are spending on their mobiles, with one in seven overspending by Pounds 20 or more in some months. That's in addition to the Pounds 30-plus a month that one in 10 children are spending on their mobiles, with one in seven overspending by Pounds 20 or more in some months. Despite this, more than half of the children surveyed had some responsibility for their own phone bill (usually as an allowance). Despite this, more than half of the children surveyed had some responsibility for their own phone bill (usually as an allowance). Indeed, some parents (16%) even give their children phones as a way of teaching financial responsibility. Indeed, some parents (16%) even give their children phones as a way of teaching financial responsibility. "It's encouraging to see that children and teenagers nowadays are very technically and digitally aware, and that they're using their mobile phones productively," says Dominic Baliszewski, from broadbandchoices.co.uk "Costs, however, can easily add up quickly on a mobile phone, particularly with data usage, which we found to be the biggest single contributor to bill shocks. "It's encouraging to see that children and teenagers nowadays are very technically and digitally aware, and that they're using their mobile phones productively," says Dominic Baliszewski, from broadbandchoices.co.uk "Costs, however, can easily add up quickly on a mobile phone, particularly with data usage, which we found to be the biggest single contributor to bill shocks. "With kids using their mobiles more during the summer holidays, there are easy ways for "With kids using their mobiles more during the summer holidays, there are easy ways for parents, and kids who are in charge of their phone bills, to prevent these surprises." parents, and kids who are in charge of their phone bills, to prevent these surprises." He suggests: Giving a child a second-hand phone. Expensive handsets may make children a target for thieves as well as being expensive to replace. If a handset has internet access, ensure children are aware of the security, personal safety and bill shock dangers. If buying a smartphone, choose one with built-in parental control software, or use parental control apps instead. To avoid going over the data allowance, most phones have data limits in the settings menu. When taking phones abroad on holiday, make sure data " He suggests: Giving a child a second-hand phone. Expensive handsets may make children a target for thieves as well as being expensive to replace. If a handset has internet access, ensure children are aware of the security, personal safety and bill shock dangers. If buying a smartphone, choose one with built-in parental control software, or use parental control apps instead. To avoid going over the data allowance, most phones have data limits in the settings menu. When taking phones abroad on holiday, make sure dat roaming is turned off and consider limiting the use of calls and texts. Giving a child a prepay (PAYG) phone allows parents to limit what their child spends every month, and if the phone is stolen, thieves can't run up any bills past the credit balance. Capped contracts can come with a handset included and offer the power to cap a child's monthly spend as if they were on PAYG. roaming is turned off and consider limiting the use of calls and texts. Giving a child a prepay (PAYG) phone allows parents to limit what their child spends every month, and if the phone is stolen, thieves can't run up any bills past the credit balance. Capped contracts can come with a handset included and offer the power to cap a child's monthly spend as if they were on PAYG. If your child has a smartphone, make sure they understand they shouldn't buy any apps or make in-app purchases without your permission first. If your child has a smartphone, make sure they understand they shouldn't buy any apps or make in-app purchases without your permission first. 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