Devices as Christmas presents – top tips for parents and carers
Technology can be a great and exciting gift for children and young people at Christmas. Games consoles, tablets and mobile phones are often at the top of a child’s letter to Santa.
We want to make sure that you have had enough conversations before these gifts arrive under the tree on Christmas Day.
Top tips
- Explore the parental controls and set them up on the device before hand: Internet Matters have easy to follow guides.
- Have a go on the device yourself: The best way to learn about the safety settings, reporting tools, and other features on your new device is to explore it yourself. Before wrapping – charge it up and try navigating the available tools.
This way, you’ll be sure it’s fully charged and ready to use on Christmas morning! - Make a family agreement: Use one of the following templates:
- ChildNet Family Agreement – suitable for all children and young people
- Digital Passport – for children in care
- Family Screen Time Pack – a more detailed agreement suitable for all children and young people
- Resources to help you talk to your child about using technology safely:
- Conversation starters on the Digital Hive
- My Family’s Digital Toolkit on Internet Matters
- Parents’ Guide to Gifting Tech by Safer Schools
If the young people you are working with lack adult support at home and need to learn how to stay safe online on their own. We recommend these resources: