This month, thousands of students across the state of Maine say goodbye to the lazy days of summer and head back to school. The new school year brings excitement and challenges, including the eternal question: “Should I get my child his first cell phone?” In addition, parents must consider what apps and devices their child needs to succeed, familiarize themselves with the local school’s device policies, and find ways to stay in touch with teachers and school administrators.

This month, thousands of students across the state of Maine say goodbye to the lazy days of summer and head back to school. The new school year brings excitement and challenges, including the eternal question: “Should I get my child his first cell phone?” In addition, parents must consider what apps and devices their child needs to succeed, familiarize themselves with the local school’s device policies, and find ways to stay in touch with teachers and school administrators. Fortunately, wireless devices can help alleviate these and other concerns.

Every generation says they get their first cell phone at a younger age. According to a recent UScellular survey¹ Parents and non-parents alike consider 13-14 years to be an appropriate age for a child’s first cell phone. If you’re thinking about buying your child their first cell phone, there’s help available.

UScellular partnered with Screen Sanity to create the Smarter Start Tool Kit. This free resource provides both parents and children with tools and tips for using phones and technology wisely. It includes discussion guides for parents introducing their first phone, a customizable phone plan, and a parent-child commitment statement. The toolkit helps families navigate what is often a complicated and challenging conversation, especially during the back-to-school season. Even if your child already has a device, this toolkit can spark new family conversations about establishing healthier digital habits.

“As school begins, Maine students will leverage their wireless devices for academic success,” said Jeremy Taylor, director of sales and operations at UScellular. “Parents and students will find that technology can connect them to real-time information from schools and teachers, as well as applications that prepare their students for success.”

UScellular offers these tech tips for the new school year:

Academic Success: Apps like Khan Academy can help students catch up on difficult subjects or learn specific skills. With hands-on exercises, quizzes, tests, and step-by-step help on a variety of topics, students can get the extra support they need for free.

Real-time school information: Many school systems in Maine use applications such as Powerschool or Canvas to allow students and parents to access information about homework, attendance, test grades, upcoming school events, and other important information. Parents should familiarize themselves with the application their child’s school uses and download it accordingly.

Phone updates and monitoring: Parents who haven’t purchased a new device like the iPhone 15 Pro Max for their child should make sure all family phones and tablets have the latest software updates. Additionally, parents might consider parental controls on their children’s phones to manage online content. Apps like Bark allow parents to monitor content, manage screen time, and filter website content for peace of mind.

Time to accessorize: If you’ve invested in your child’s first phone or a new device, consider purchasing a protective phone case like the Otterbox Commuter. Portable chargers like the Mophie PowerStation are also helpful for students with extracurricular activities to ensure their batteries last all day when it’s time to head home.