Your child’s first phone: a safety checklist

A first phone is the perfect moment to agree on rules — before problems appear, not after. Here’s a checklist that takes about 15 minutes to set up.

Settings to set up together

1. Daily limits for screen time, and the phone out of the bedroom at night.
2. Content & privacy restrictions so apps, films and websites match their age.
3. Ask to Buy or purchase approval for app store purchases.
4. Location off in photos and in social apps that don’t need it.
5. Family location sharing — openly, with your child’s agreement. See how to share location with family.

Rules to agree as a family

• No phones at the table or in the bedroom overnight.
• Only add people you know in real life.
• Never send photos or your address to strangers.
• If something online feels weird or scary, show a parent — and you won’t be in trouble.

What to say

“This is your phone and I trust you. The rules aren’t about watching you — they’re about keeping you safe. In a couple of months we’ll talk about what to change.”

Safety features worth using

• Arrival alerts for school and home, so you’re not texting “are you there yet?”.
• SOS your child can press if something feels wrong.
• Battery alerts so a dead phone doesn’t cause panic.

All three are part of AI Family Locator. The app also includes Family AI, a gentle assistant that can help with questions like this one — from first-phone rules to homework battles and bedtime stories.

Revisit the rules

Put a date in the calendar two or three months from now. Loosen what’s going well, and talk about anything that isn’t.

Set up your family map when you hand over the phone, and start with good habits from day one.