Here’s What We Decided Before First Grade
Should a six-year-old have a smartphone? My oldest starts first grade soon, and I still can’t believe I’m saying that out loud. But in the middle of all the back-to-back back-to-school prep, and trying not to cry over how quickly she’s growing up, another question has quietly found its way into our house. I’m sure you can guess it..“Mama… when can I have a phone?”
It’s not the first time she’s asked, nor the second or the third time. Her dad has an old phone that no longer works, and it’s been sitting in a drawer for months. So now and then she’ll find it and pretend it’s hers. Even when we go out, she’ll sneak into her tiny purse as though she owns it, and suddenly think that she’s ten years older – I laugh whenever I see this. To her, having a phone looks exciting and makes her feel grown up, which I completely understand, but she’s just too young to get one now.
The other day, we went to visit her cousins who are the same age as her and her sister, and they each had a phone, well… sort of. They were old phones that had no connected mobile plans and were no longer used by their parents. They were mostly just being used around the house to watch YouTube. But to my daughter, none of that mattered; all she saw were her cousins having phones. A few months ago, my biggest concern was whether she’d remember to pack her brotdose; now I’m thinking about “How do we stay connected as she slowly becomes more independent?” These are questions I never really thought about when she was in kindergarten, but now that first grade is around the corner, they’re becoming real. And if you’re a parent preparing for this stage too, maybe you’ve been wondering if a Six-year-old should have a phone. It’s a reasonable question; after all, we want our children to be safe and to be able to reach us if they need us. But even with all of those questions… My answer to the phone question is still no.
Why We Said No to a Smartphone
I’ll be honest, we didn’t spend weeks debating whether our six-year-old should have a smartphone or not; that answer came pretty quickly for us. No! Not because we don’t trust her, but simply because she’s six. Personally, I don’t think a six-year-old needs YouTube in their pockets or notifications popping up every few minutes, and I don’t think they need the temptation of social media before they’ve even settled into first grade. I mean, childhood already goes by fast enough, and I want my daughter’s worry at this age to be about skipping ropes at break time and playing catch with her new friends, or remembering where her classroom is and proudly showing us the picture she coloured that day, instead of wondering whether her phone battery is low or asking if she can watch “just one more video.”
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Of course, I know technology isn’t the enemy, because my children are growing up in a digital world, but I want them to be confident using technology when the time is right – I just don’t think this is the right time. Also, for us, first grade is about learning to read, building confidence, discovering independence and enjoying being a child, so bringing smartphones into the mix would just be us introducing a whole new world that we don’t think she needs to carry around with her yet. However, it doesn’t mean I don’t understand why parents buy phones for their children. In fact, I understand it completely, because the moment your child starts school, a new worry begins to settle into your mind, and these are real, valid concerns, especially for parents raising children away from extended family like we are. We don’t have grandparents just around the corner who can quickly step in or pick her up if something unexpected happens, and knowing we can reach each other brings a huge sense of reassurance. So now, the challenge is finding a way to stay connected without giving a six-year-old unrestricted access to everything that comes with a smartphone.
Interestingly, child health experts recommend a very similar approach. The American Academy of Paediatrics encourages families to create age-appropriate media plans and reminds parents that children need enough sleep, physical activity, face-to-face relationships and time away from screens to support healthy development. Rather than rushing into smartphone ownership, they recommend setting thoughtful boundaries based on a child’s age and developmental stage. The AAP also points out that primary-school-aged children are not yet ready for social media accounts, Instead, these years should be focused on building friendships, learning, hobbies and healthy family routines, with media supporting those goals rather than replacing them.
Now, that really resonated with me, and it reminded me that the question we should be asking ourselves is “What does our six-year-old actually need?” And for us, the answer is simply a safe way to communicate with our daughter, and that’s exactly why we started looking at kids’ smartwatches instead of smartphones.
What I Noticed After Moving to Germany
One thing I’ve noticed since living in Germany is that almost every child in first grade seems to have a smartwatch. The first time I noticed them, I remember thinking, “Wow… these children are so young. Why do they all have smartwatches?” As it got to my daughter’s turn to be a first grader, it started to make sense to me. Children here often walk to school, go to after-school care, visit friends, or spend time playing outside with a little more independence. But parents still want to know where they are and, more importantly, children need a simple way to call Mum or Dad if something unexpected happens. And a smart watch gives families that connection without giving a six-year-old a smartphone. The more I watched other families, the more I realised that most parents were choosing between a smartphone and a much simpler communication device, and I started thinking about it this way too.
Why We’re Leaning Towards a Smartwatch Instead of a Smartphone
My husband and I have already decided that our daughter isn’t getting a smartphone yet.
She’s only six. And while she doesn’t need notifications blowing up her phone, while she’s still learning to read and settling into her very first year of school, she does need a safe way to reach us if plans change or if she ever needs help. And we need the reassurance of knowing we can reach her too. That’s why a kids’ smart watch feels like the right middle ground for our family and It gives us the things that actually matter such as GPS location, so we know where she is, voice and video calling with approved family members, an SOS button she can press if she ever needs help, school Mode, so the watch stays quiet during lessons and doesn’t become a distraction and no open internet or social media to tempt a curious six-year-old. For us, that’s perfect enough for now.
The Kids’ Smartwatch We’re Looking At
As we’ve been researching different options, one watch that has caught our attention is the LAGENIO K10 AI 4G KIDS SMARTWATCH. I like that the battery can last up to three days, so we wouldn’t worry much about charging it every night, and it focuses on the things parents actually care about, like real-time GPS tracking, 4G voice and video calling, sending parents messages, and an SOS button they can press easily and quickly. It’s also water-resistant, which, if you’re raising young children, is never a bad thing! What I appreciate most is that parents can use the Lagenio app to manage contacts, check location, set class mode and block unknown callers. I don’t know what else could give parents peace of mind more than this. If we decide our daughter needs a way to contact us after she starts school, this is exactly the kind of device we’d feel comfortable giving her, because it’s built for communication and safety first, not endless screen time.
Smartphone vs. Kids’ Smartwatch
If you’re trying to decide like we were, here’s how we broke it down to weigh the pros and the cons:
| Feature | Smartphone | Kids’ Smartwatch |
| Internet access | Yes | No open internet |
| YouTube & apps | Yes | No |
| Social media | Yes | No |
| GPS tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Voice calling | Yes | Yes |
| Video calling | Yes | Yes (On supported models) |
| School Mode | Usually, no | Yes |
| Designed for a six-year-old | Not in my opinion | Yes |
After this break down, the choice became much clearer for us and then we stopped asking ourselves, “Does she need a phone?” and started asking, “What does she actually need?” And like I said earlier, the answer was communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a six-year-old use a smart watch?
Yes. Many smart watches are designed specifically for young children and focus on communication and safety rather than entertainment. Features like GPS tracking, approved contact lists and School Mode make them a more age-appropriate first device than a smartphone.
Do kids’ smart watches require a monthly plan?
Most 4G smart watches require a SIM card with a mobile plan so they can make calls, send messages and use GPS. The cost depends on your mobile provider and the country you live in.
How can I track my child’s location without giving them a smartphone?
A GPS-enabled kids’ smartwatch is one of the simplest options, as it allows parents to see their child’s location while giving children a way to call home without providing unrestricted internet access.
Last but not least
For now, our daughter still isn’t getting a phone, and we don’t want to rush her into carrying the internet around in her pocket. However, we do understand the need to stay connected as she starts this new chapter of her life and If she needs a way to reach us, or we need a way to reach her, we believe that a kids’ smart watch feels like a much gentler first step into owing a calling device.
So, If you’re researching first devices for your own child, you can take a look at the LaGenio K9 4G AI Kids Smartwatch here.
(If you purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. But I only recommend products I genuinely believe are worth considering).
