RESOURCES01. HOW TO DELAY
Join the Smartphone Free Childhood movement
Join the fantastic Smartphone Free Childhood movement by joining your local school’s WhatsApp group (or creating one if there isn’t one already). Sign the Parent Pact and join thousands of other parents committed to delaying their child’s first phone.
Resources to Help You Understand the Issue
Smartphones have been linked to a range of physical and mental health challenges for children and teens, including cyberbullying, sleep disruption, and depression. Explore the following resources:
Choosing an Alternative to a Smartphone
We recommend delaying your child’s first smartphone until at least age 14, and social media until 16. In the meantime, consider providing a basic phone (without internet access). Choosing the right alternative can feel tricky, but there are many great options available.
Smartphone Free Childhood has created a comprehensive guide to help parents choose the best phone for their child at any age or stage. Included are basic phones without internet access, devices with limited calling and messaging capabilities and age-appropriate options tailored to your child’s needs:
02. WHAT IF MY CHILD ALREADY HAS A PHONE
If Your Child Already Has a Phone
If your child already has a smartphone, don’t panic! Here are strategies to keep them safe online.
Top 5 Tips:
Talk to your child and other parents.
Keep devices out of bedrooms at night.
Set up screen time limits and use parental control apps. Block VPNs to prevent bypassing restrictions.
Encourage activities that help your child disconnect from their phone.
Consider deleting social media apps or switching to a basic phone – it’s never too late.
What About Parental Controls?
No parental control system is perfect; children can often find ways to bypass them. However, if your child has an internet-connected device, we recommend using parental controls as an added layer of protection.
Important:
Parental controls should not be relied on as the sole method for keeping your child safe online.
Use them alongside open communication, supervision, and education about safe and responsible device use.
By combining technology with guidance and discussion, you can create a safer digital environment without giving a false sense of security.
Parental Control Options: Features and Limitations
Parental controls help manage and monitor children’s device and app usage, but no system is completely foolproof. Here’s a breakdown by type, cost, and limitations:
1. Free Options
Apple Screen Time (iOS) & Google Family Link (Android)
Pros:
Built into devices, easy to set up.
Monitor screen time, set app limits, and manage device use.
Limitations:
Can be bypassed by tech-savvy children.
Limited reporting and insights compared to paid tools.
Best suited for younger children; less effective for teens.
Apple Family controls are limited in scope and generally recommended only until age 14.
2. Mid-Range Options
Norton Family (subscription-based)
Pros:
Web filtering, app monitoring, and time limits.
Provides activity reports and alerts for potentially risky behaviour .
Moderate cost compared to premium apps.
Limitations:
Requires ongoing subscription.
Some features may not work on all apps or devices.
Teens may still find ways to bypass controls with VPNs or new accounts.
3. Premium Options
Qustodio (higher-cost subscription)
Pros:
Advanced app and web monitoring.
Time limits, location tracking, and detailed activity reports.
Limitations:
Expensive subscription fees.
Cannot prevent all risks; determined teens may still find workarounds.
Require active engagement from parents to interpret reports and enforce rules.
A comparative analysis of top parental control apps, including Qustodio, to help you make an informed decision based on your family's needs.
Safety Guides
How to stop children downloading Apps on their iPhone/ Android phone
How to stop your child from downloading apps on their iPhone — TECHED OFF >
How to restrict your child from downloading apps on their Android phone — TECHED OFF >
How to set up content restrictions
Set content restrictions & parental controls on your child's Android phone — TECHED OFF >
Set privacy and parental controls on your child's Apple Iphone — TECHED OFF >
How to set up parental controls
Snapchat parental & safety controls — TECHED OFF >
Tiktok parental & safety controls — TECHED OFF >
Roblox parental & safety controls — TECHED OFF >
Understanding VPNs
03. TOP TIPS FOR PHONE RELATED ISSUES
Conversation Starters for Your Family
How do we, as a family, want to communicate?
What do we value most about our family time?
What do we like and not like about our family’s use of technology?
Why does my child want a smartphone?
What are the benefits and harms of social media?
What are our “big no’s” regarding technology, and why are they important?
What compromises can we all agree to?
What should the consequences be if boundaries are pushed?
How much screen time is appropriate on school days and weekends?
How to Talk to Other Parents
Discussing smartphones with other parents can feel challenging, as every family has its own approach. These conversations don’t have to be uncomfortable if approached with openness and empathy.
For practical tips on how to talk to other parents about delaying smartphones without sounding judgmental, see: How to Talk to Other Parents >
How Much Screen Time Should I Allow?
Health professionals recommend no screen time before age 2, followed by gradual, age-appropriate exposure alongside plenty of alternative, non-screen activities.
Recommended Screen Time by Age
Birth to 24 months
No screen time, except for video chatting with a caregiver.
2 to 5 years
Up to 30 minutes per day of high-quality, age-appropriate content.
No screens at least 2 hours before bedtime.
6 to 10 years
Up to 1–2 hours per day.
No screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.
11 to 17 years
Up to 2–3 hours per day.
No screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.
Full visual guide:
📄 Health Professionals for Safer Screens – Screen Time Poster >
How to Navigate Sleepovers and Playdates
Sleepovers and playdates can introduce extra challenges, as the rules you set at home may not always apply elsewhere. The key is to maintain a strong relationship with your child and empower them to make responsible choices when they are away from home.
Use this guide for advice on:
Talking to other parents about rules and expectations
Preparing your child for challenging scenarios
Managing smartphone use during sleepovers and playdates
My Older Sibling Has a Phone – Do I Need to Give One to My Younger Child?
It’s natural to wonder if younger children should have the same devices as their older siblings. With the growing understanding of the potential harms of smartphones, it’s okay to do things differently for each child. By reframing the device as age-appropriate rather than a reward or entitlement, parents can make decisions that prioritize health, wellbeing, and safety for each child individually.
Giving a smartphone to an older child doesn’t mean younger children need one at the same age.
Think of the device as more suitable for adults or older teens; smartphones can have negative effects on younger children’s development.
You wouldn’t make your younger child eat something that made your older child sick. Similarly, the decision to delay a smartphone is about protecting your child, not creating inequality.
Help with pornography
Pornography is a significant issue for young people, particularly when they have unrestricted internet access. We recommend initiating an age-appropriate conversation with your child as early as possible and ensuring ( as a minimum) that devices have parental controls and are kept out of the bedroom at night. For further help and support, visit The Naked Truth Project.
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