Kids With Mobile Devices Cost Parents $2.8-Billion a Year in Repairs and Replacements

A recent survey says 85% of kids have some sort of mobile device. According to their parents, 50% of them have damaged a portable device including laptop and tablet computers and phones.

According to Square Trade's 2013 Kids Accident Survey, the damages for repair or replacement added up to $2.8-billion over the last year, the bulk of that paid by parents.

Boys are more likely than girls to damage a device and food and drink are the most frequent reason for damage. Got Milk? That was the top single food damaging a mobile device. The top food and beverage accidents include:

• 50% Milk
• 19% Chocolate
• 17% Candy
• 16% Yogurt

The survey also says kids who have a mobile device use it on average of 3.2 hours per day with teens having the highest usage at almost 5 hours per day. Surprisingly, kids under the age of two are likely to use a mobile device up to 1.5 hours per day if someone in the household owns one.

Square Trade recommends keeping your mobile device in a protective case, don't have food and beverage nearby while using it and don't take your mobile device to the bathroom.

[Square Trade]