Children should be allowed to use mobile phones after they turn 11 and the internet unsupervised at 12, parents say
- 59 per cent admit they struggle to give kids more freedom, according to survey
- Parents of older children struggled with letting them have social media accounts
Kids appear to grow up so fast, nowadays, it can be hard to catch up.
So it may not come as a surprise that parents believe children should be able to play in the garden unsupervised from the age of eight and earn pocket money at nine, according to a survey.
A poll of 1,300 parents of six to 16-year-olds found they typically consider children to be old enough to pack their own lunch box from 11 and use the internet unsupervised at 12.
Mobile phones are considered appropriate after their 11th birthday, while children should wait until they turn 13 to use social media.
But 59 per cent admitted they have struggled to give their children more freedom due to worries about their health and safety and whether they are too young.
Mobile phones are considered appropriate after their 11th birthday, while children should wait until they turn 13 to use social medi
Others were concerned they won’t make sensible choices, that they will grow up too quickly or that their nutrition and wellbeing will suffer.
The study also found 53 per cent of parents were unprepared for the emotional wrench of giving their children more independence.
Parents of children aged six to 11 found the hardest decisions involved when to let them go out with friends unsupervised, walk to school with friends and have access to electronic devices and the internet.
For parents of older children, aged 12-16, letting them stay home alone (38 per cent) and have a social media account (37 per cent) were the most difficult choices.
Despite this, 99 per cent of parents polled agreed it was important to give their children more independence, with 63 per cent believing it helped them develop their decision-making skills.
Parents of children aged six to 11 found the hardest decisions involved when to let them go out with friends unsupervised, walk to school with friends and have access to electronic devices and the internet
More than half, 55 per cent, felt it helped with their social development and interpersonal skills.
Parenting expert Olivia Edwards said it is important for mums and dads to support their children navigate life successfully.
She said: ‘Getting the balance right between wanting to protect your child as well as preparing them for the world can be hard.
‘We all want our children to grow up to be confident, independent and resilient adults and this starts in childhood by giving them opportunities to learn, make mistakes and grow. But it’s a lot easier said than done.’
A spokesman for nutraceutical company Vitabiotics, which commissioned the report, said: ‘Some areas are easier to give independence than others, but when it comes to something as important as health and nutrition, it can be difficult to sit back and let your child make their own mistakes.
‘Educating your child on the importance of a good, balanced, nutrient rich diet, is a great starting point, as well as getting them into some good habits early on.’
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