As smartphones become more a part of our daily lives, many parents question how old their kids should be to have a device of their own.

At HuffPost Parents How To Raise A Kid conference in Brooklyn on Friday, technology and childrens media experts discussed what parents should consider before handing over a cellphone to their children.

While many apps have age requirements (for example, Facebook and Instagram are supposed to be for people 13 and up), theres no definitive answer for parents wondering when kids can handle the responsibility and the content that comes with having a personal smartphone.

Our panelists, however, did offer tips on how parents can make this decision at home a bit easier. Check out their advice below.

Jill Murphy, vice president and editor-in-chief at Common Sense Media , which provides reviews and information about family-friendly shows, movies and apps:

At the conference, Murphy noted that the team at Common Sense Media hears three popular concerns from caretakers: how much screen time should kids have, how to deal with YouTube and its content, and when kids should get a smartphone. She explained that different families will have different reasons for giving their kids phones.

It really does depend on whats going on with your family, she said. You may be a single parent and you work in the afternoon when your kid is getting out of school, or theyre not in after-care and you like them to have a smartphone because thats how you guys connect in the afternoon so they can go home and you feel better about it. There are plenty of positive things that we have with this new technology.

Caretakers should keep in mind, though, that giving a phone to kids who are not emotionally or developmentally ready can create many challenges. Murphy suggested coming up with a family media plan or agreement (Common Sense offers them ). Although a contract can seem cheesy, she said, its a helpful way for parents to establish any ground rules and how they expect their kids to behave with their phone online and off.