Own the account and recovery path
Research context: Ofcom reported that 88% of children ages 3–7 and 99% of children ages 8–17 went online in 2025. Source: Ofcom: Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes 2025–26.
Use the platform’s family account structure when it fits your household. Keep recovery email, payment approval, and account-reset access with an adult.
Write down which adult can recover the device. A restriction that nobody can reset safely becomes a problem during travel, repair, or an ordinary forgotten passcode.
- Adult-controlled recovery method
- Purchase approval enabled
- Location sharing chosen deliberately
- Automatic backups understood
Set defaults before adding novelty
Review notifications, app-install permissions, browser content settings, contact permissions, location, and microphone or camera access before loading the device with games and social apps.
Defaults do not replace supervision. They reduce accidental exposure and make later conversations more specific.
Decide where the device lives
Choose a charging place and a few device-free moments that adults will also respect. A physical home for the device is often easier to follow than a complicated schedule.
Tell the child what to do when something confusing, scary, expensive, or embarrassing appears. The safest first response is usually to pause and ask—not hide the mistake.
Common questions
What should I set up before a child uses a new device?
Set up account ownership, safer defaults, and a clear charging home before the device goes to the child.
Are settings enough on their own?
No. The conversation about expectations and mistakes matters as much as the toggles.