Choose the family-account ecosystem before choosing the hardware: a tablet or phone suits varied apps and communication, while a games console is a more focused choice when gaming comes first. Check that the child can use a supervised account, that you can manage its settings and that the controls cover the purchases and chat features they will actually use.
A child-specific account makes it possible to set up the approvals and limits the household wants before the child starts downloading apps. Apple’s Ask to Buy requires a Child Account in Family Sharing; Google Family Link offers app and time-management settings for eligible supervised devices.
Game access, playtime, online interaction and spending matter more than general-purpose apps. Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox offer family settings for gaming, but the features covered and the setup steps differ.
App-store approval, console spending settings and communication controls address different activities. Match the settings to the stores, games and chat features the child will use rather than relying on a general parental-controls label.
Start with the child’s planned activities and the account you will manage. Then check the relevant store, communication and time settings on the exact device and service; choose protective accessories afterwards.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts and purchases | Can the child have their own managed account? Check which downloads and payments require approval, including how stored credit is handled. | If I want to approve downloads and spending, I need the child’s activity kept separate from my account. Around 36% of consumers put account and purchase control first. |
| Chat and online interaction | Check settings for the messaging, voice chat and multiplayer features the child intends to use; one setting may not cover them all. | When games or apps let my child interact with others, I want to know which conversations I can manage. Communication controls come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Activities and time | Decide whether the child needs general-purpose apps or mainly games, then check time controls on the chosen device and operating system. | If the device is mainly for gaming, I may not need a phone or tablet; mixed activities change that choice. Around 21% of consumers prioritise activity fit and time boundaries. |
| Protection and accessories | Check case fit, charging or controller clearance, and headphone connection and fit for the exact device. | For a device that will be carried or used with headphones, I need accessories that fit without getting in the way. Physical practicality is the primary concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Controls have service boundaries: Google says purchase approval applies only to Google Play billing, while Nintendo manages Switch 2 GameChat separately from its broader communication restrictions.
List the apps, games, chat features and payment methods the child will use, then check the setting for each one before choosing a device.
Apple’s Ask to Buy requires the child’s own Apple Account in the Family Sharing group. Using an adult account does not establish that child-specific approval arrangement.
Set up the child’s account and the relevant family group before handing over the device.
Apple says redemption codes do not trigger Ask to Buy requests. Microsoft says approval is not needed when a child spends Xbox account currency or Xbox gift cards.
Decide separately whether the child may use redeemed credit, stored balances or gift cards.
PEGI ratings describe content suitability, not game difficulty. A time limit does not replace checks on a game’s communication, multiplayer and spending features.
Review the individual game’s PEGI rating and online features, then configure the relevant controls before play.
An iPhone or iPad route for families considering Apple Accounts, Family Sharing, Screen Time and Ask to Buy.
A Family Link route for supported Android devices and Chromebooks with supervised Google Accounts.
A gaming-focused route for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 households.
A console-gaming route using PlayStation Family settings for child accounts.
An Xbox gaming route using Microsoft family groups and the Xbox Family Settings app.
No. Controls apply to particular devices, accounts and services rather than everything a child does online. For instance, Google says Family Link cannot let a parent remotely listen to calls or view the child’s screen; review the apps the child uses and agree household rules alongside device settings.
No. Apple’s UK account guidance says a child under 13 needs a parent or guardian’s help and consent and must join a Family Sharing group. Arrange that account setup before relying on Ask to Buy.
No. Google says Family Link cannot supervise iPhones or iPads. If supervision through Family Link is central to your choice, check eligibility for the exact Android device or Chromebook instead.
No. PEGI says its age ratings address content suitability, not difficulty or the skill needed to play. Consider the game’s demands and online features separately from its age label.
No. Microsoft says approval is not needed when a child uses Xbox gift cards or existing account currency. Decide whether the child should have access to either before relying on purchase requests to manage spending.