Getting a child their first phone, tablet, laptop or gaming console is exciting. It gives them a way to learn, explore their interests, stay in touch with family and enjoy games. It also gives them access to online spaces where they may encounter inappropriate content, strangers, scams and privacy risks.
That is why knowing how to set up kids device safely matters before they start using it independently.
You do not need to block every website or monitor every conversation. A better approach is to combine the safety settings already available on most devices with clear boundaries and regular conversations about responsible use.
Whether you are setting up an iPhone, Android phone, iPad, Windows laptop or gaming console, these steps will help you create a safer starting point for your child.
1. Create a Child Account Before Installing Apps
One of the first things to do is create an account appropriate for your child’s age.
Avoid letting a young child use your personal account simply because it is already signed in. Your account may contain saved payment details, private messages, browsing history, work files and access to services that are unsuitable for them.
A child account gives you more control over age restrictions, purchases, privacy settings and app access.
For an iPhone or iPad
Apple’s Family Sharing lets a parent or guardian set up a child’s Apple Account and manage supported parental controls from their own device.
You can then configure Screen Time, content restrictions, communication settings and purchase approvals.
Start by opening Settings on your iPhone or iPad, going to Family and following the instructions to add your child. The exact options depend on the device, software version and region.
For an Android device
Google Family Link lets parents manage supported child accounts and supervise compatible Android devices and Chromebooks.
You can use it to approve apps, set screen time limits, manage certain account settings and review device location where supported.
Install Family Link on the parent’s device, then follow Google’s instructions to create or supervise the child’s account.
For a Windows laptop or Xbox
Microsoft Family Safety allows parents to manage a family group, set screen time limits and configure supported app, game and web filters.
Create a separate Microsoft account for your child and add it to your family group. Connect the child’s supported devices so you can manage the relevant settings.
Important: Features vary by operating system, device and account type. Check the official setup instructions for your specific device rather than assuming every control works everywhere.
2. Turn On Parental Controls
Parental controls let you restrict access to certain content, apps, purchases and device features. They are useful for younger children and can be adjusted as your child becomes more independent.
Start with the controls built into the device. You may not need to pay for a separate parental control app.
Here are the main options to check.
| Device | Built in safety tools |
| iPhone and iPad | Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions and Family Sharing |
| Android | Google Family Link and supported device level parental controls |
| Windows | Microsoft Family Safety |
| Xbox | Xbox family and privacy settings |
| PlayStation | Family Management and parental controls |
| Nintendo Switch | Parental Controls app and console settings |
Once the relevant controls are enabled, review the following settings.
Age appropriate content: Restrict apps, games, films and other content that is unsuitable for your child’s age.
Web filtering: Use available filters to reduce exposure to adult websites and other inappropriate material.
App permissions: Review which apps can access the camera, microphone, contacts, photos and location.
Purchases: Require approval for app downloads, subscriptions and in app purchases where the platform supports it.
Communication: Use available settings to limit who can contact your child, particularly in games and social platforms.
Parental controls reduce some risks, but they are not perfect. A filter may miss content, and a restriction on one app may not apply to another browser or service. Check the settings periodically and talk to your child about what to do if they encounter something disturbing.
3. Set Screen Time Limits That Fit Your Child
A new device can quickly become the centre of a child’s day. Games, videos, messaging and social apps are designed to keep people engaged, making it easy to lose track of time.
Rather than waiting until device use becomes a problem, agree on a routine before handing it over.
Decide when your child can use the device, when it should be put away and which activities take priority. Homework, sleep, exercise, family time and offline hobbies should all have space in the routine.
Use the device’s screen time tools
On Apple devices, Screen Time provides options for scheduling downtime, setting app limits and reviewing usage.
Google Family Link supports daily screen time limits, app specific limits and schedules on compatible devices.
Microsoft Family Safety can manage screen time on supported Windows and Xbox devices.
Choose limits that reflect your child’s age, school schedule and needs. A device used for homework may need different rules from one used mainly for games or entertainment.
Avoid relying on a single daily number to determine whether your child’s device use is healthy. The type of activity matters too. A video call with grandparents, a school assignment and several hours of passive video viewing are different experiences.
Also establish device free periods, especially during meals, homework and before bedtime. Charge devices outside the bedroom overnight when practical.
4. Review Privacy and Location Settings
Children may share more information online than they realise. A photograph can reveal a school uniform, a home address, a regular route or a location they visit frequently.
Before your child starts using the device, review its privacy settings.
Check app permissions
Open the device’s privacy settings and review which apps can access sensitive features.
Ask yourself whether each app genuinely needs access to:
- Location
- Camera and microphone
- Contacts
- Photos and files
- Bluetooth or nearby devices
A video calling app may need camera and microphone access. A simple puzzle game may have no reason to access your contacts.
Where possible, allow access only while an app is in use and limit permissions that are unnecessary for its main function.
Decide whether location sharing is appropriate
Location sharing can help parents coordinate pickups or check whether a child has arrived somewhere safely. It also creates privacy considerations.
If you enable it, explain what is being shared, who can see it and why. Review the people and apps with access, and disable unnecessary location sharing.
Avoid assuming that every app needs to know your child’s location.
5. Make App Downloads and Online Purchases Safer
Free games and apps can include advertisements, in app purchases, subscriptions and links to external websites. Some may also encourage children to spend money to unlock features or progress faster.
Set up purchase approval before your child starts downloading apps.
On supported Apple devices, Ask to Buy can allow a parent to approve eligible purchases and downloads. Google Family Link offers approval options for purchases made through Google Play’s billing system. Microsoft Family Safety also provides purchase and spending controls for supported Microsoft services.
These features have limits. They may not cover purchases made through every website, payment method or third party store.
For that reason, take a few additional steps:
- Require approval for downloads and purchases wherever available.
- Review the app’s age rating, developer and privacy information.
- Check whether the app includes advertising, chat features or in app purchases.
- Avoid saving payment details on a child’s device when they are unnecessary.
- Review subscriptions and purchase history periodically.
Teach your child to ask before installing an unfamiliar app or entering payment details. Explain that a free download can still lead to unexpected costs.
6. Talk About Strangers, Messages and Online Scams
Technical restrictions cannot cover every interaction a child may have online. Children also need to recognise suspicious behaviour and feel comfortable asking for help.
Explain that people online may not be who they claim to be. A profile photograph, a familiar sounding voice or a friendly message does not prove someone’s identity.
Discuss these warning signs:
- Someone asks your child to keep a conversation secret from trusted adults.
- A stranger requests photographs, personal information or their location.
- Someone offers gifts, game currency or prizes in exchange for information.
- A person pressures them to move a conversation to another app.
- Someone sends threatening messages or tries to make them feel guilty.
- A message asks them to click an unfamiliar link or download a file.
Make it clear that your child can come to you if something feels uncomfortable, even if they clicked a link, replied to a stranger or broke a family rule.
Respond calmly when they ask for help. If children believe that every mistake will lead to losing their device, they may hide problems instead of reporting them.
For younger children, practise simple responses such as leaving a conversation, blocking an account and telling a trusted adult. Older children can learn to recognise phishing, impersonation and other common online scams.
7. Secure the Device and Its Accounts
A device can expose private information if someone gains access to it. Basic security settings help protect your child’s messages, photographs, accounts and other personal data.
Start with these steps:
Use a screen lock. Set a PIN or password that is difficult for others to guess. Biometrics can provide another layer of convenience on supported devices.
Keep software updated. Install operating system and app updates to receive security fixes.
Enable account recovery. Make sure the account has a secure recovery method managed appropriately for your child’s age.
Use multifactor authentication where appropriate. Enable supported additional sign in protection and explain why verification codes should not be shared.
Enable device recovery features. Where available, configure the tools that help locate, lock or erase a lost device.
Install apps from trusted sources. Avoid unofficial downloads and unexpected files sent through messages.
If the device is lost, use the manufacturer’s official account or device recovery tools. Contact the mobile carrier if a phone or SIM card may have been stolen, and secure important accounts if you suspect unauthorised access.
8. Set Up Gaming and Social Apps Separately
A phone or tablet can have strong parental controls while individual games and social apps remain more open than you intended.
Before allowing your child to use a service, review its own privacy and safety settings.
For games, check whether voice chat, text chat, friend requests, public profiles and user generated content can be restricted. Review who can send invitations or contact your child.
For social platforms, check minimum age requirements, account visibility, direct messages, comments, tagging and location features. Do not assume a platform is appropriate simply because your child can download it.
Use the service’s family or parental controls where available. If a platform does not offer the safeguards your child needs, consider whether they are ready to use it.
Remember that device level controls and app level controls are different. A filter applied to one browser may not automatically cover another browser, an in app browser or a messaging service.
9. Create Family Rules Before Problems Arise
Safety settings work best when children understand the expectations behind them.
Instead of giving a long lecture on the day the device arrives, agree on a few practical rules together.
For example:
- Devices are charged outside bedrooms overnight.
- New apps and purchases require approval.
- Personal details are not shared with strangers.
- Online friends are not met in person without a parent’s involvement.
- Suspicious messages, uncomfortable conversations and bullying are reported.
- Family members respect one another’s privacy and device boundaries.
Adjust the rules as your child gets older. A young child may need close supervision, while a teenager may benefit from greater independence and more discussion about digital responsibility.
Be transparent about what parental controls monitor. Explain any activity reports or location sharing you enable, and revisit those arrangements as your child’s needs change.
The aim is to build good judgement, not just to prevent access to certain apps.
Your New Device Safety Checklist
Before handing over the device, work through this list.
- ☐ Create a child account with the correct age information.
- ☐ Install available operating system and security updates.
- ☐ Set a screen lock and secure account recovery.
- ☐ Enable age appropriate parental controls.
- ☐ Configure web filters and content restrictions.
- ☐ Set screen time schedules and device free periods.
- ☐ Require approval for downloads and purchases where possible.
- ☐ Review camera, microphone, contacts and location permissions.
- ☐ Check privacy settings for games and social apps.
- ☐ Discuss online strangers, suspicious links and how to ask for help.
- ☐ Agree on family rules and review them regularly.
Giving your child a new device is also an opportunity to help them develop safer digital habits.
The best setup combines age appropriate restrictions, secure accounts, sensible screen time boundaries and open conversations about what children may encounter online. No single setting can eliminate every risk, and the right balance will change as your child grows.
Start with the device’s built in safety tools, review the apps your child wants to use and make sure they know they can come to you when something goes wrong.
Set up the safeguards before the first download, and keep the conversation going long after the device is unboxed.
