If you’re a parent with young children, the question of when to get them a phone is an important one. On one hand, they’re great for your kids to be able to keep in contact not just with you, but with their friends too.
However, they come with risks – being constantly connected with internet access at their fingertips might not be the best choice for your kids. A new study published in the journal ‘Pediatrics’ has now found a link between smartphone use and health issues. According to the study, children who had a smartphone by age 12 were at a higher risk of sleeping issues, depression and obesity than children who did not have one.
The data came from researchers who had analysed more than 10,500 kids who took part in the study. The study followed children’s brain development and is the largest of its kind in the US to date.
The study also found that the younger the child was when they received their first phone, the higher the risk.
Dr Ran Barzilay, lead author of the study, said that giving your kids a phone does carry a certain risk.
He told the New York Times: “When you give your kid a phone, you need to think of it as something that is significant for the kid’s health — and behave accordingly.”
The study does not prove that mobile phones lead to poorer health outcomes – there is an association, but it’s not cause and effect.
However, according to The New York Times, previous studies have shown that children who receive smartphones at a young age are less likely to exercise outdoors and socialise with their peers in real-time.
Access to a cellphone also impacts sleep, with kids more likely to stay up later looking at their phones or be awoken in the night by the sound of a notification.
One simple way to combat this, if you do decide to get your child a phone, is to ensure the device is removed from their bedroom before they go to bed. This gives a better chance of a proper night’s sleep while still allowing them freedom.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
