SkieHow to set up a safe first phone for your child using a phone you already own
You can make a safe first phone from an Android phone you already own. Reset it, manage it with Skie as the device owner, allow only a short list of apps, block adult sites and other browsers, hide the Play Store and add bedtime and study schedules. No new phone needs to be bought.
Do you need to buy a phone for kids?
Searches for a phone for kids point families to products built for the purpose. Gabb, Pinwheel and others sell a phone, often together with their own plan or software. They suit families who want a ready-made answer in a box.
Many families already have a good phone: an older handset, a hand-me-down from an elder sibling, or one bought for another reason. If it runs Android 12 or newer, it can become a safe first phone through software. Skie does not sell phones. It manages the one you have.
Check the phone and clean it
Confirm Android 12 or newer in Settings, About phone. Back up what you want to keep, remove any Google account, and reset the phone to factory state. Android only allows device-owner management on a phone that has not been set up, so this is a one-time step. Stop at the welcome screen and provision with the Skie Provision app or a computer and cable.
Using a hand-me-down also means a clean start: no old chat apps, no saved logins, no old photos left on the device.
Build the allowed list
- Calls and messages, so your child can reach you
- A camera and gallery, if you are happy with them
- Maps, so the phone helps rather than hides
- School and learning apps
- A small number of games or music apps
- Nothing with open social feeds, to start with
Lock the doors
Hide the Play Store so apps are added only when you add them. Block adult websites with a locked filter, force SafeSearch, and let Skie block alternative browsers, VPN apps and unknown sources. Turn off the camera, SMS or outgoing calls with the optional switches if your child is young. Skie cannot yet restrict calling to a contacts-only list, which is not available yet and is something the team is working on.
Add a bedtime schedule so the phone shifts to a short set of apps, or locks, overnight. There is more detail in setting study time and a bedtime lock.
Keep your child safe outside the house
Switch on live location and set geofences for home and school, so you see when your child arrives. There is an SOS button that calls the emergency number you choose. Location needs your child's knowledge and a clear family agreement: see how to track your child's location responsibly.
If the phone goes missing, lost mode locks it, shows a contact message, tracks it and collects evidence for a police report. More in what to do if a child's phone is lost or stolen.
Add apps slowly
A safe first phone is not a fixed thing. Start narrow and widen as your child shows they can handle it. Each app in the Skie app store has a category and an age band to help you decide. Hand over the phone with a short conversation about what is on it, why, and how you will review it together. Pricing for Skie is on request.
A first week plan
- Day one: show your child the phone, what is on it and what the rules are
- Days two to three: use it together, calls and maps first
- End of week one: ask what they miss and what they like
- Week two: add one app they have asked for, if you agree
- Week four: review location, bedtime and the allowed list together
Mistakes to avoid with a first phone
The most common one is giving too much at once, then trying to take things away. Taking an app back is much harder than adding one. Another is keeping the phone's passcode a mystery to the child while expecting them to be open with you. A third is using the phone as a reward and punishment, which makes it feel like a possession to defend rather than a tool to use well.
Also resist the pressure of what everyone else has. A class where every child has a social app is a real pressure, but you can decide the right time for your child. If you do add a messaging app, agree on how it will be used and who your child may talk to.
Skie supports this approach: because you choose every app and can see the device's status, you can say yes slowly. Per-app time limits are not available yet, and the team is working on them, so rely on bedtime and study windows today.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good first phone for a child?
A phone you can control. An Android 12 or newer phone you already own, managed with Skie, can work as well as a purpose-built kids phone.
Is there a phone for kids with no internet?
Any managed phone can be limited to calls and a few apps. Skie lets you hide the browser or restrict it. Contacts-only calling is not available yet.
Does Skie sell a phone for kids?
No. Skie is software only. You use a phone you already own or buy yourself.
Can I use an old phone?
Yes, if it runs Android 12 or newer and can be reset. Remove any Google account first.
What about phone for kids with no social media?
Allow only the apps you choose and hide the Play Store. Social apps stay off the phone unless you add them.