The summer holidays are nearly here! Six weeks of adventures, trips to the park, days out with friends, sleepovers, and maybe even that big family holiday you’ve been planning all year. It’s a time kids love – but for parents, it’s often when the stress levels rise.
One simple thing can make your summer easier, safer, and more organised: giving your child their own mobile number before the school term ends.
Here’s why the time to sort it out is now, before the last school bell rings.
1. Make Sure Friends Have the Right Number Before School Ends
This is the single biggest reason to sort it before term finishes. Once the school gates close, your child won’t see many of their classmates for six weeks.
If they don’t have their own number by then, they can’t share it. That makes arranging meet-ups much harder. By getting their number now, you can help them swap numbers with friends while they’re still seeing them every day.
2. Peace of Mind When They’re Out and About
Let’s be honest: most kids get more freedom over summer.
- Meeting friends at the park.
- Going swimming.
- Wandering round the shops.
- Visiting grandparents.
Even if you’re happy for them to go – you’ll want to be able to reach them (and for them to reach you).
A personal number on their own SIM card means:
- They can call you if plans change.
- You can find out where they are.
- No relying on a friend’s phone.
3. Ideal for Older “Dumb” Phones or Simple First Phones
Not every child is ready for an expensive smartphone. Many parents prefer to start them off with basic dumb phones for kids (like a Doro or Nokia) that:
- Can call and text.
- Is tough enough to survive summer play.
- Has a long-lasting battery.
These phones need their own SIM card and number. Get that sorted before the summer holidays and they’re ready to go.
4. Better Safety When Travelling
Summer often means trips away. Even if it’s just a day out, kids can get separated in busy places.
With their own number:
- You can reunite quickly if they wander off.
- They can call you if they get lost.
- You can stay in touch even if you split into smaller groups.
If you’re going abroad, you can even enable overseas roaming so they have coverage wherever you are.
5. Supports Independence and Responsibility
Summer is a great time for kids to practise being independent in a safe way. A personal mobile number is part of that:
- They can make their own arrangements with friends (under your supervision).
- They learn to manage their phone responsibly.
- They practise checking in when they’re meant to.
You can set ground rules – for example:
- No answering calls from numbers they don’t know ( or enable ParentShield’s Ultra Secure Mode )
- Must reply if you text or call.
- Phone always charged before leaving home.
6. Keeps Parents in Control (with the Right SIM)
Parents often worry about giving kids a phone – and rightly so.
But not all SIM cards are the same. With specialist child-friendly services ( like ParentShield ), you can have features designed for safety:
- Call and text monitoring: See who they’re in contact with.
- Ultra-Secure Mode: Only allow calls to and from trusted numbers.
- Data controls: Block or time-limit mobile data access if you want.
- Tracking Tools: See the last-connected cell tower location as a handy backup if GPS isn’t available or isn’t enabled. It gives you a rough idea of where they were last using their phone – ideal for simple phones or added peace of mind when GPS tracking isn’t an option.
It’s about keeping them safe while giving them freedom.
7. Avoid the Last-Minute Rush
Sorting their mobile number before the holidays simply takes one more job off your plate.
The end of term is always busy enough with sports days, school reports, and Induction events. By handling their SIM card and number now, you can:
- Tick it off the list early.
- Make sure they have it to share with friends before they all scatter.
- Avoid remembering too late when you’re packing for holiday or heading out for the day.
It’s just one of those small things that’s far easier to do calmly before school finishes, so you’re not thinking “We should have sorted that!” when summer plans pop up.
8. Great for Grandparents and Family, Too
Summer is often family time – cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents.
If your child has their own number:
- Grandparents can call them directly.
- They can message relatives to say thanks for a day out.
- You can coordinate pick-ups more easily.
It’s a small thing that makes family life much smoother.
9. Build Safe Habits Early
Finally, summer is a great time to teach them how to use a phone responsibly, without the distraction of school.
They can learn:
- How to recognise scam calls or spam texts ( or block them with ParentShield’s Ultra Secure Mode )
- How to look after their phone.
- How to use it
And you can agree on rules you’re both happy with before term starts.
10. Ideal Time to Teach Responsible Use
The summer holidays are a low-pressure moment to:
- Talk about phone safety.
- Set ground rules for screen time.
- Practise answering calls or texts appropriately.
During school time you’re often too busy – summer gives space to build those habits calmly.