Money hacks How to manage your child's first mobile phone

From getting the right handset and trying to make sure children are safe from scammers to ensuring they don't lose it, there is a lot for parents to bear in mind when giving a child their first phone.

- Shane Hickey

Choose the right phone

After you make the decision to get them a mobile, first up is deciding what type they should have and how much you are willing to spend.

For their first smartphone, budget Androids start at less than £100 and often have reliable batteries and good screens. The HMD Pulse costs about £70, while Motorola's Moto G34 is £130.

Apple iPhones are a much more expensive option, with handsets from the official store starting at £599 for a new iPhone 16e. There are many more offers available online, with the 2022 iPhone SE (at Laptops Direct for £299) a good starting point.

Or you could opt to recycle one of your old phones by giving it a new battery and case, and reset the factory settings. Assuming there are still software updates provided by the manufacturer, huge savings are possible.

Set controls If your child is under 13, Apple and Google allow you to create child accounts that are linked to your own service so that you can manage their usage, such as filtering their search results. If they are older than 13 and have their own account, you can apply various parental controls on either an Android phone or iPhone at setup by connecting it to your, or your family's, account.

You can set screen-time limits, block apps, restrict content, limit permissions and track their location. Apple's parental controls and Google's Family Link have guides on getting settings right.

For those seeking extra control, ParentShield is a mobile network that allows parents to record and review calls and texts, and has extensive number blocking and spending controls on premium numbers. Prices for sim-only deals range from £5.99 to £39.99 a month.