Appropriate phone ownership does not necessarily depend on a child’s age but on their readiness, says digital literacy and well-being expert Joanne Orlando. SYDNEY: The start of the school year means some parents will be asking a big question: Is it time for a child’s first phone? Safety concerns, particularly around travel to and from school, or being home after school without a parent, often drive this decision. There can also be huge social pressure if many of a child’s friends have a phone.