What should you set up on a child's first phone?

Their own child account (Family Sharing on iPhone, Family Link on Android), Ask to Buy or app approval, time and content limits, shared location (talked about openly, not in secret), emergency contacts, and some house rules for using it.

At what age can a child have their own phone account in Spain?

From age 14. Below that, Apple requires the child to be in a Family Sharing group with consent from a parent or guardian, and Google manages their account through Family Link.

What age do pediatricians recommend for a first phone?

The AEPap doesn't set a minimum age. It recommends limiting internet-connected devices from 6 to 12 and, from 12 to 16, if access is allowed, using them with parental controls and time management.

Can I see where my child is with their first phone?

Yes, with Family Sharing (iPhone) or Family Link (Android), for free. It's best to tell them from day one. From age 14, a mutual app like Mi Estela lets you agree on it as equals.

Family · Teens · Safety

First Phone for Three Kings Day: What to Set Up Before Wrapping It

The morning of January 6th is no time to wrestle with settings. What's worth doing beforehand: the child's account, Apple or Google controls, a location you've agreed on together, 112, and house rules.

The Mi Estela teamOctober 15, 2026 · 7 min read

In this article

First things first: is it the right time?
1. Create the child's account (don't give them yours)
2. The controls that are actually worth it
3. Location: talked about, not hidden
4. Emergencies: 112 and emergency contacts
5. Apps: few, and chosen together
6. House rules, in writing
And Three Kings morning

A first phone often arrives on Three Kings Day, and the morning of January 6th is the worst moment to set it up: the kid wants to start using it, you want it to be safe, and nobody has the patience to read settings screens. Here's the list of what's worth doing before you wrap it, based on what pediatricians say and what each system allows as of October 15, 2026.

First things first: is it the right time?

There's no magic age, but there are recommendations. The Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics (AEPap) summed it up in December 2024 with a clear title, “The phone is not a gift, it's a problem,” and it outlines these stages: from 6 to 12 years old, limit devices with internet access and, if they're used, supervise them; from 12 to 16, if access is allowed, use parental controls and time management. According to UNICEF Spain data cited by the Spanish Data Protection Agency, the average age for a child's first own phone is before 11. If you're unsure, our guide on what age to give a kid their first phone goes through it stage by stage, with alternatives like a smartwatch.

1. Create the child's account (don't give them yours)

In Spain, under 14, the account is created and authorized by an adult. This is how Apple and Google handle it:

iPhone: from your iPhone, Settings › Family › Add Member › Create Child Account. Apple says that in Spain, children under 14 need consent from a parent or guardian and must be part of a Family Sharing group.
Android: with Family Link you create or link the child's Google account. In Spain, Family Link manages accounts for kids under 14; when they turn 14, they can move to a regular account and parents get a notice beforehand.

Do this while the phone is still in the box (or just unboxed), update the system, and set it up again. On January 6th, all they'll have to do is turn it on.

2. The controls that are actually worth it

On iPhone (Settings › Family › the child's name), Apple offers:

Ask to Buy: you get a request before each download or purchase.
Allowed contacts: who they can talk to in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone.
Communication Safety: blurs photos and videos with nudity or violence.
Screen Time schedules and limits by category (games, social media) and content restrictions by age.

On Android, Family Link lets you approve the apps they install, filter content, set schedules, lock the phone remotely, and see where the device is. If you're torn between this and a paid app, our comparison of Qustodio or Family Link covers the differences.

3. Location: talked about, not hidden

Both tools above let you see where the child's phone is (Family Sharing, with Share My Location; Family Link, with device location). For a 10- or 11-year-old, that makes sense. What works best is telling them the same day, casually: “you can see me and I can see you, and it helps us stay calm when you come home alone.” What doesn't work is them finding out a year later.

From age 14, with their own account, the right approach is agreeing on it as equals. Mi Estela is made for that stage (it requires being 14 to have an account): each person sees the same thing about the other, minors don't get Ghost mode, and arrival alerts (at school, at home) replace the daily “did you get there?” text. We cover it in how to bring it up with a teenager.

4. Emergencies: 112 and emergency contacts

Explain that 112 works without credit and that the phone automatically sends its location when you call (how it works).
Fill in the emergency contacts and the medical information on the phone (on iPhone, Medical ID in the Health app; on Android, Emergency information in settings), which can be seen from the lock screen.
Save mom, dad, and a trusted adult in their contacts with clear names.

5. Apps: few, and chosen together

Install what they'll actually use (messaging with family, the school app, a map) and leave the rest for later, with Ask to Buy or Family Link approval. Check the minimum age for each social network before they ask for it: almost all of them are above the age of a first phone.

6. House rules, in writing

The AEPD recommends planning the arrival of the phone and setting rules and usage limits. A note on the fridge is worth more than any setting:

Where the phone sleeps (outside the bedroom).
When it isn't used (meals, homework, the last hour before bed).
What to do if something upsets or scares them: tell an adult, with no punishment for speaking up.
When the rules get reviewed (for example, on their birthday).

And Three Kings morning

With all this done, on January 6th the phone gets turned on, played with, and the rules get discussed with the gift in hand. If your family prefers to start with a GPS smartwatch, our guide on what to look for in a GPS watch for kids has the checklist.

Sources

Written by the Mi Estela team. We talk about other apps with sources and dates; if you spot anything outdated, drop us a line at hola@miestela.app and we'll fix it. Brands and names mentioned belong to their respective owners.