Your child's first phone: a 7-step safety checklist

Giving your child their first phone is exciting — and a little nerve-wracking. A few minutes of setup makes a huge difference. Here's the checklist we recommend to parents.

1. Talk before you set up

Agree on the basics together: when the phone is used, where it charges at night, and what to do if something online feels wrong. Kids who help write the rules are far more likely to follow them.

2. Turn on parental controls

Both iOS (Screen Time) and Android (Family Link) let you limit app downloads, set downtime and filter content. Set these up before handing the phone over.

3. Install Find My Kid and pair it

Install LifeCircle: Find My Kid on your child's phone and pair it with LifeCircle: Family & Friends on yours using the unique code. You'll see their location on your family map — no social feed, no ads.

4. Save their key places

Add home, school and grandparents' house as places in LifeCircle. You'll get a gentle notification when they arrive, so you don't need to call.

5. Practise the SOS button

Show them where the SOS button is and do a practice run together. Make sure they know it's for real emergencies — and that they will never be in trouble for using it.

6. Keep the battery healthy

A phone that's dead can't help. Turn on low-battery alerts in LifeCircle and pack a small power bank for school trips.

7. Review together every month

Rules should grow with your child. Check in monthly: what's working, what feels too strict, and what new freedoms they've earned.

Ready? Download Find My Kid and pair it in under two minutes.