Tips before you buy a gadget gift for a child for Christmas 

It’s that time of year again, when many of you may be feeling pressured to buy smart devices for your children.

As a parent, I’ve been there and empathise – my son started lobbying for a gaming console from about the age of eight.

My advice is to hold off until you’ve researched the device, its games and apps, and until you’re prepared for everything that comes with it.

Smart devices and screens are woven into nearly every aspect of our daily lives. If you’ve ever given your child a tablet as a means of distraction whilst juggling dinner, calls, laundry or work emails, you are not alone.

Children see us using these devices constantly, and to them a phone or tablet is just another toy - bright, noisy, and entertaining.

While smart devices can indeed be amazing tools for learning and creativity, they can also expose children to risks such as scams, grooming and sexual content. The key truth we need to hold onto: smart devices are not toys.

Teaching this requires knowledge, boundaries, and compassion - for yourself as much as for your children.

Unlike toys, smart devices provide a gateway to the internet (which wasn’t designed with children in mind), to communication, to algorithms that influence behaviour and lead us all down rabbit holes, and to harmful contact or content far beyond our children’s emotional readiness. They simply don’t yet have the maturity, impulse control, critical thinking or context to navigate any of that safely and this is where our role, as a parent becomes so essential.

Just as we teach children how to carefully ride a bike, not touch fire, and care for and respect a family pet, we can teach them the same about devices.

As parents, we play a vital role in empowering our children to use technology responsibly – the ultimate goal – and it’s essential we stay involved in their online lives, from early childhood to teenage years. As they grow, we must trust that we have prepared them sufficiently well to apply the skills they’ve learned and exercise good judgement online - just as we trust them to cross the road safely. It’s all about trying to strike the right balance between protection and independence.

But just like crossing a busy road, there are inherent risks involved in the digital world – cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content and contact (online grooming and sextortion), issues related to privacy (oversharing) and excessive screen time.

We know smart devices have become a huge part of children’s lives. Our own research reveals just how connected young children in Ireland already are. Among 8-12 year olds, 62% own tablets, 53% own gaming consoles, 39% own smartphones, 22% own smartwatches, and 11% of this age group own VR headsets with smart device ownership reaching 100% by the age of 13.

Parents should feel confident about when and how to introduce new technology, without feeling pressured to keep up with the latest trends because “such and such has one.”

It can feel as though if your child doesn’t have access to apps or devices early, they’ll fall behind socially or academically. But research continually reminds us the opposite is true: delaying or limiting device (specifically smartphone) access supports healthier brain development, emotional regulation, attention span, and creativity.

So when you set rules around device use and screen time such as; no devices at mealtimes, no devices in bedrooms at night, supervised use only, or time and activity-restricted access - you’re not depriving your child of something essential. You are giving them the chance to build skills no app can teach: patience, boredom tolerance, imaginative play, problem-solving, face-to-face connection.

Having boundaries in place also teaches children that digital privileges are earned and managed, not assumed. This mindset is valuable as they become teens who must handle texting, social media, online identity, and peer pressure. You’re not just making rules for today-you’re building digital maturity for tomorrow.

More and more, we’re seeing the benefits of parent communities coming together to delay giving their children access to smart devices and social media, as the ramifications of children’s online access are real – and parents need to ensure they are adequately prepared for it.

Our latest Trends & Usage Report, A Life Behind The Screens, found 28% of 8–12 year olds and 26% of 12–15 year olds experienced content or contact that bothered them in the past year — including horror, violence, sexual material, and threats. Six in ten younger children reported disturbing content on YouTube Shorts, and 59% said they encountered sexualised behaviour or harassment from bad actors on Roblox — platforms often, and mistakenly, viewed as child-friendly.

So how can we reduce these risks? Consistent guidance and supervision go a long way. Use built-in parental controls to manage what your child can access and for how long — just don’t rely on them entirely. Normalise having conversations about online activity and make them judgment-free, so your child feels safe coming to you with questions or concerns (without fear of punishment).

Spend time online together - playing games, watching videos, or exploring apps so you can model safe, responsible habits while staying connected.

We often struggle with guilt around our own device use: guilt for relying on screens, checking messages or work emails, not knowing enough about online safety, or changing the rules when life gets overwhelming. You’re not alone. A child whose parent talks openly about technology, models balanced use when possible, and explains boundaries with empathy is already far ahead of the curve.

Mindful tech use isn’t about limiting their world; it’s about empowering them to navigate it in a safer, smarter and more responsible way.

The CyberSafeKids Gadget Gift Guide is available to download at https://www.cybersafekids.ie/giftguide/