20 Nov 2025

Things to consider before gifting a child a phone for Christmas

From Nine To Noon, 11:25 am on 20 November 2025
Image of girl receiving smartphone gift

Photo: Pixabay

As we barrel toward Christmas, you might be about to make the most of this month's crazy sales days. Perhaps a phone or a gaming device for a young family member makes your shopping list. But before you look to leave one wrapped under the tree - my parenting expert is along with some things to consider before handing out the technical toys. Anna McKessar is an online course producer with Parenting Place and joins me with some tips about alternatives to smartphones for younger kids, key steps for parents embarking on a device journey with their kids and how to set good boundaries and online expectations with older children.