Richard Hogan: I wouldn't give a child a smartphone until they are at least 14 years of age 

The internet can be too hardcore for young minds

Smartphones are a gateway to adult and hardcore content. Children should be at least 14 before they own one.

A dilemma for many parents this Christmas is whether or not to buy their child a smartphone. This is not something you should do lightly. Once your child has a smartphone, there is no going back.

I hear the same sentiment in my clinic, the regret of parents that smartphones were brought into their children's lives too early. I get asked by very confused and worried parents, 'What is the right age to give a child a phone?' This is such an important and pressing question for many parents at this time of year. The pressure on parents is considerable, too. It can be very unsettling to watch your child beg you for a phone, using the old, 'but all my friends have one' technique.