Should my 5–7 year old's first device be their own or a shared family one?

A shared family tablet is usually the better starting point at this age. It keeps screen use in communal spaces, makes supervision natural, and avoids the sense of ownership that makes limits harder to enforce later. Set up a separate child profile with restricted apps. You can move towards a personal device as your child shows they can follow agreed rules.

My child gets very upset when screen time ends. How can I make handovers easier?

Use a visible timer and give a warning a few minutes before time's up, so the ending isn't a surprise. Agree in advance what happens next, ideally something appealing like a snack or game. Calm consistency matters more than negotiating in the moment. If meltdowns are frequent, it may signal sessions are too long or the content too stimulating.

First Device Readiness for 5–7 Year Olds

How to assess whether your young child is ready for their first device, and what to set up before handing it over.

Many children encounter their first personal device — often a tablet — between the ages of five and seven. Before handing over any device, it is worth considering whether your child is ready and what safeguards need to be in place. This page helps you make that assessment and prepare the device appropriately.

Signs Your Child May Be Ready

A child who can follow basic rules, understands the idea of asking for permission, and can tell you if something on screen makes them uncomfortable may be ready for supervised device use. Readiness is about maturity, not just age. If your child frequently ignores boundaries, it may be worth waiting a little longer.

Essential Setup Before Handing Over

Enable parental controls, restrict app installations to require your approval, and set up a child-specific user profile. Pre-load age-appropriate apps and disable the web browser or set it to a whitelist of approved sites. Set a daily screen time limit from day one.

Establishing Device Rules Together

Create a simple agreement with your child about when and where they can use the device. Rules like 'only in the living room' and 'not at mealtimes' are easy for young children to understand. Revisit the rules regularly and praise your child when they follow them.

External sources

Set up parental controls — Internet Matters
Keeping children safe online — NSPCC

Frequently Asked Questions

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.