Giving your child their first phone can be tricky business, as it can come with a lot of pressure. What phone do I give them? How old should they be? Do they honestly need a phone?
Well, multi-billionaire, and all-round nice guy, Bill Gates, recently answered some questions for parents struggling with the mobile phone dilemma.
In a recent interview, the father-of-three revealed that he and his wife, Melinda, were forced to come up with a set of guidelines about mobile phone use when their own children – Jennifer, 20, Rory, 17, and Phoebe, 14 – started asking about it.
“We don’t have cellphones at the table when we are having a meal; we didn't give our kids cellphones until they were 14, and they complained that other kids got them earlier,” he explained.
Bill also spoke about the fact that he and his wife limit their youngest child's screen time, to ensure she "gets to sleep at a reasonable hour”.
We have to admit that we take serious comfort in the fact that even the founder of Microsoft struggles when it comes to allowing his kids to access technology.
“You’re always looking at how it can be used in a great way – homework and staying in touch with friends – and also where it has gotten to excess,” he admits.
What do you think the appropriate age is, mums? Let us know your thoughts on the matter.
