Buying your kid their first phone? Do these 5 things first

For parents, the decision to get your child their first cell phone comes with a lot of questions. There are a handful of logistical hurdles to clear, such as choosing a kid-friendly phone and then making sure they have coverage on one of the best family cell phone plans.But just as important is what comes next — setting the ground rules for how your kid uses their new phone and how you plan to enforce them.

Guidelines for device usage are crucial for a variety of reasons. They allow you and your child to set and maintain healthy boundaries around issues like screen time, ensuring that phones don’t get in the way of homework and other activities or lead to detrimental effects on sleep or mental health.

Clear rules also help keep kids safe, protecting their privacy and limiting riskier int