Common Sense Media Finds 40% Of Kids Have Their Own Tablet By Age Two And Nearly One In Four Have Their Own Phone By Age Eight, So Check What Your Kids Really Need

Jane Clark

2 hours ago

Remember when a toddler’s big gift was a wooden block set and a stuffed bunny? These days, a surprising number of little ones are getting a screen of their own before they can tie their shoes.

That is one of the headline findings from The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight, published by Common Sense Media on February 26, 2025. The report found that 40% of children have a tablet by age 2. It also found that nearly 1 in 4 children have a personal cellphone by age 8.

What Else The Census Found

The report looked at how the youngest kids use media, and a few other findings are worth knowing. Children in this age group spend about 2.5 hours a day on screens, a figure Common Sense Media describes as roughly steady. Gaming time, however, is up 65% in four years.

The kind of screen time is shifting as well. Traditional TV has declined, while short-form video, such as YouTube Shorts and TikTok, has grown. In other words, the habits have changed even where the total hours have not.

That may not surprise a parent who has handed over a phone in a restaurant or on a long drive. It is easy to do, and it works in the moment. The census simply shows how common it has become, and it gives families a good reason to stop and think about what they are buying.

A Gift Or A Gadget Pile?

As the Decluttering Mom crew, we look at this through a particular lens. Every device in the house comes with extras: chargers, cases, cords, screen protectors, the apps and subscriptions that follow. Add a few kids to the mix and the pile grows fast.

There is also the question of what the device replaces. A tablet that lands in a toddler’s hands might push aside the cardboard-box fort, the picture books, the pots and pans on the kitchen floor. Those things cost almost nothing, take up very little room and tend to last in a child’s memory far longer than a screen does.

None of this means a tablet is automatically bad. Many families use them for a video call with grandparents, a long trip or a few quiet minutes while dinner gets made. The point is to decide on purpose rather than drift into it.

Questions To Ask Before You Buy

Before putting a device on a birthday or holiday list, here are some simple questions worth asking.

What problem am I solving? If the honest answer is “to keep them busy,” look for a low-tech option first.
Does it have to be theirs? A shared family tablet that stays in a common room is a very different thing from a personal device that goes everywhere.
Who sets the rules? Decide on time limits, places that are screen-free and how content gets chosen before the device arrives, not after.
Is there an older device we already own? An older phone or tablet kept in a drawer may do the job without a new purchase.
What will it replace? Think about the activities you want to protect, such as reading, outdoor play and mealtime conversation.

The Phone By Age Eight Question

The finding that nearly one in four kids has a personal cellphone by age 8 deserves its own conversation. A phone is not just a screen. It is a way to reach the outside world, and it opens doors that most eight-year-olds are not ready to handle alone.

If your child is asking for one because friends have it, that is a very normal moment. You can acknowledge the feeling without handing over the device. Many families find that a basic way to call a parent, kept simple, covers the real need. Others hold off and let the topic wait a few more years. There is no single right answer, but there is a right answer for your family, and it is worth reaching on your own schedule.

Simple Swaps That Cost Little

If you want to cut back on gadgets, you do not need a grand plan. Create a basket of books by the couch. Keep art supplies where little hands can reach them. Set aside a drawer of “rainy day” activities that can come out when the house gets restless. Rotating a small number of toys keeps things fresh and keeps the floor clear.

Consider gifts that are experiences rather than objects: a trip to the library, a day at the park, a baking afternoon with Grandma. They do not need storing, and they tend to be remembered.

The Takeaway

The Common Sense Census tells us that screens arrive early for many children. The rest is up to us. Before you buy the next device, take a moment to ask what your kids truly need, and what they might enjoy even more. A little thought now can save you a drawer of cords later, and give your child more of what matters.