Kids should own a mobile at age three, new survey finds

10 per cent of parents think it's acceptable to give a child as young as three to six its first mobile device. Photo / Getty Images

Parents are concerned about their kids' screen use but that is not deterring many from giving children as young as three their own mobile devices.

A recent Galaxy poll found more than 10 per cent of parents think it's acceptable to give a child as young as three to six its first mobile device, reports news.com.au.

A further 13 per cent think seven to nine years of age is the right age for children to be given their own device.

Practising psychologist and Australian social commentator Sabina Read said she was a bit shocked that 20 per cent of parents think device ownership is OK for five to nine year-olds.

"The device itself is not the enemy and if we say it is "bad" it only becomes more appealing," Read said.

But there are so many opportunities for young children to connect with the world and if they are looking at a screen they will miss out on these, she added.

Preliminary results from a further poll show 65 per cent of children aged five to 12 own their own devices.

A tablet is the digital device most widely owned by younger kids, about half of them own their own tablet and more young boys than young girls are likely to have their own device.