5 Must-Know Smartphone Safety Tips for Parents

Posted May 13, 2025 by Prairie Wife - 3 comments

I believe that we can’t ignore the role tech plays in today’s society. 

As parents, it’s our job to provide our children with the tools they need to navigate this tech world safely and appropriately based on their age and/or maturity level. 

It’s our job to set boundaries, educate our children on appropriate behavior, monitor their use, and punish them for misuse if necessary.

In truth, giving our kids tech means more work for us, but I think that’s what it means to be a responsible parent right now.

Below are a few things to consider BEFORE getting a Smartphone for your child…

Things to think about when purchasing Smartphones for your kids:

• How responsible are they?
• Can they keep track of things like shoes and school books?
• Is this tech necessary/going to add to their life positively?
• Can I REALLY enforce the rules and boundaries my child needs?
• Am I willing to deal with the fallout if I need to take the tech away?

A few more thoughts:

• If they like music, a device like a Google Mini or Alexa may be the right fit.
• If reading is your motivation, you can purchase devices that only offer books, not apps.
• Smart watches and flip phones can be less stressful (and more age-appropriate) than smartphones.
• I hate Snapchat. I have yet to see anything good come from that app. It’s not allowed in our home or on our phones. Kids with sports groups that communicate via this app always have at least one friend who will let them know what’s happening. They aren’t missing out on anything by not having it.

If you’ve decided it’s time for your child to have a smartphone, below are 5 Must-Know Smartphone Safety Tips for Parents

1. Use the parental controls that come with your Smartphone. We have iPhones, and along with the family plan, I can limit when they have access to their phone with the screen time options. We have firm “downtime” settings as well as time limits for apps and content restriction. The Cowkids have to ask for permission if they want more time before they can download ANY apps. This ensures that I am aware of exactly what is on their smartphone. They can’t download Snapchat without my permission, or any apps they can use to hide what they’re doing.
2. Consider downloading the Bark App. This parental control app has many functions similar to the ones I mentioned above, but takes them to the next level. It scans for dangers like predators, suicidal ideation, violence, and more. You’ll be notified if there’s something wrong. This can’t keep things from happening, but it can give you a chance to step in quickly and have the conversations that need to be had to keep your kids safe.
3. Have all the tech stored in one spot during your nightly downtime. In our home, all of the tech gets plugged in on the kitchen counter at 10 pm and remains there until the morning. No tech allowed in rooms at night. Yes, a child CAN sneak up and unplug it and use it anyway (this may have happened a time or two in our family), but it absolutely reduces the risks of phone misuse. If we need extra security for the tech, we have the Cowkids plug them in next to our nightstands.
4. You paid for the phone, so you always have access to it. You purchased the phone and you pay the bills; therefore, technically, it’s your phone that you allow your child to use. Our children know that we may randomly pick up their plugged-in phones and scroll through their texts, pictures, and videos. This is something that we have done only rarely (and usually our instincts are right and there is a conversation that needs to be had), but our children know that while we respect their privacy, if they’re doing something against our family rules, they have no right to be upset when they get caught. Their younger siblings may have to use their phones for various reasons, so our teenagers know that they better not have anything inappropriate on their phones. Also, their phones don’t have a lock screen or code. We must have access to it at all times.
5. Go over your family rules often. Make a clear list of expectations/family rules as well as realistic punishments if the rules are broken. What do I mean by “realistic punishments”? Will you actually take away their phone for three weeks? Can your family really get by without being able to communicate with your teen for that long? With our rural lifestyle and how often the teens drive back and forth to town, we don’t want them without a phone.  So, how do we ground them from their phone? We have a flip phone that is used as a house phone or phone when our middle school kids are out of town for sports. The grounded child uses the flip phone during their time. Or, you can use the parental controls mentioned above to ensure your child cannot access apps and can only text or call approved people on their smartphones. If you feel like you need to be incredibly clear with the rules and expectations for Smartphones in your home, type up a family contract, sign it, and keep it where everyone can see it.

Will following all these rules ensure that your children remain safe at all times?

Nope.

Our daughter’s case of being stalked by a 41-year-old woman is proof that there is no way to stop someone determined to harm your child.

BUT it can help limit the risks and allow you to learn about potentially harmful situations before they escalate.

Because we had full access to our daughter’s phone and knew the restrictions we put on it, we knew she wasn’t the one sending the text messages to her peers or community members. We knew she had never downloaded a burner app to disguise her number.

Kids will misbehave and push the limits, so be prepared to stand firm and teach them to follow your rules if they want the privilege of having a phone.

Also, I encourage you to begin having hard conversations with your children now!

There will be more posts soon about keeping kids safe in this tech-filled world.

As I write them, I will include the links below.

Feel free to share your tips and tricks or ask questions in the comment section below.

Categories: Life As It Happens, Parenting

Tags: , cyber security, kids and tech, parenting, parenting teens, rules for smartphones, smartphones, tech rules, teens, tweens