At what age should I give my child a smartphone?

There is no single right age. Many experts suggest waiting until secondary school (age 11–12) and starting with a basic phone before moving to a smartphone. What matters most is whether your child understands the risks and whether you have set up appropriate parental controls.

How do I talk to my child about online dangers without scaring them?

Keep conversations calm, age-appropriate, and ongoing rather than a single big talk. Use real-world analogies they understand, such as not talking to strangers in the park. Focus on empowering them to make safe choices rather than listing worst-case scenarios.

Child Safety for Parents

Practical safety guidance for parents navigating online and offline risks. From first phones to teenage independence, find age-appropriate advice you can act on today.

As a parent, keeping your child safe can feel overwhelming — especially when technology evolves faster than you can keep up. This guide brings together the most important safety information in one place, covering everything from setting up parental controls to having age-appropriate conversations about risk. You do not need to be a tech expert. Small, consistent steps make the biggest difference.

Why this matters

Children look to their parents first when something goes wrong. Research consistently shows that children who have open, ongoing conversations with their parents about safety are more likely to seek help early and less likely to engage in risky behaviour online. Your involvement is the single most protective factor in your child's safety.

Quick wins

high

Set up parental controls on your home broadband router

Time: 15 minutes

high

Have a five-minute chat about who your child talks to online

Time: 5 minutes

medium

Download our family online safety agreement and complete it together

Time: 20 minutes

Common challenges

Keeping up with new apps and platforms your child wants to use

Use our app guides to quickly understand key risks and privacy settings for the most popular platforms. You do not need to master every app — just know enough to have an informed conversation.

Balancing screen time with independence and trust

Create a family online safety agreement together. When children help set the rules, they are more likely to follow them. Revisit the agreement regularly as they grow.

Knowing when to intervene and when to step back

Focus on maintaining open communication rather than surveillance. Let your child know they can come to you without fear of punishment if something goes wrong online.