TinyclockGetting started
Before the first phone: a 10-point checklist for parents
Ten practical steps to take before giving your child a first smartphone, from the family agreement to privacy settings, limits and a plan for problems.
By the Tinyclock editorial team · Published · Updated · 2 min read
A first phone is a milestone, and it is easier to get right when you prepare first. This checklist gathers the things most families wish they had done before the box was opened. Work through it with your child where you can: it makes the rules feel shared.
The checklist
1. Decide why your child needs a phone
Write down the reason: staying in touch while travelling alone, school tasks, family coordination. A clear purpose helps you choose the right device and the right rules.
2. Choose the device and plan
A phone with calls and messages may be enough. If you choose a smartphone, decide on storage, app store settings and whether it will have mobile data or only Wi-Fi at first.
3. Write a family agreement
A one-page agreement covers when and where the phone is used, what is shared online, what to do if something upsetting happens and how rules will change over time. Both of you sign it.
4. Set up the accounts yourself
Create the child's account with a parent's email, set the correct birth date and turn on the age-appropriate settings. Keep the passwords somewhere safe.
5. Turn on privacy settings
Make profiles private, switch off unnecessary location sharing, limit who can contact your child and review permissions for each app.
6. Add parental controls and limits
Set a daily limit and a bedtime lock before the first day. A tool such as Tinyclock can help you keep the limits in one place across iPhone and Android. Read our complete guide to parental control apps for how to choose.
7. Choose the always-allowed apps
Phone, messages to family, maps and school tools should keep working when the leisure limit ends.
8. Set screen-free zones and times
Typical choices are meals, the bedroom overnight and homework time. Charge the phone outside the bedroom.
9. Practise the "what if" conversations
Talk through what your child should do if a stranger contacts them, if they see something scary, or if they make a mistake such as sharing a photo. Promise that they will not be in trouble for telling you.
10. Plan a review date
Put a date in the calendar, such as four weeks after the phone arrives. Ask what is working, adjust limits and loosen some rules if things are going well.
After the first week
Check in without hovering. Ask your child to show you their favourite thing on the phone, and listen. That keeps the conversation open when something goes wrong.
Sources and further reading
- HealthyChildren.org, a family media plan builder and age-based advice
Frequently asked questions
What is the right age for a first phone?
There is no single right age. Consider independence (travelling alone), maturity, and whether the family has the routines to support it. Many families start with a simple phone or a watch.
Should I set up parental controls before or after handing over the phone?
Before. It is much easier to start with sensible boundaries than to add them later.