Parental Controls for Your Kids' Tech Toys: Consoles, Watches and More

A new gadget is exciting, and the last thing a child wants on a birthday or holiday morning is to wait while a parent reads through settings menus. That's why the best time to set up parental controls on tech toys is before they're unwrapped. Charge the device, create the accounts, apply the limits, then wrap it back up.

Here's what to check for the most common kids' gadgets.

Before you start: create the child account

Most devices now ask who will use them. Whenever you're offered the choice, create a child account linked to your own, rather than letting your child sign in with an adult account or yours. Child accounts unlock age-based defaults and let you manage things from your phone.

Keep a private note of every PIN and password you set, and don't reuse your phone's unlock code.

Game consoles

All three major console makers offer free parental control apps for your phone.

Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

Download the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app and link it to the console. It works with both the original Switch and Switch 2. You can:

• Set daily play-time limits and choose whether the game is suspended when time runs out
• Restrict games by age rating
• Limit posting to social media and communication with other players
• Manage GameChat settings on Switch 2
• See which games were played and for how long

Recent app updates added a log of each time the parental controls PIN is entered on the console, with an optional alert, so you'll know if someone used the PIN to override a setting.

Xbox

Use the Xbox Family Settings app with a Microsoft child account. You can set screen time, apply content restrictions, approve friend requests, and manage spending. Xbox controls also connect to Microsoft Family Safety, which manages Windows PCs.

PlayStation 4 and 5

Sony launched the free PlayStation Family app for iOS and Android in 2025. It lets you:

• See what your child is playing
• Approve or decline requests for extra playtime or for games that are restricted by age
• Set daily and weekly time limits
• Set monthly spending limits and add funds

For all three, pay special attention to who can communicate with your child. Voice and text chat with strangers is the biggest risk in online gaming. Our article on the dangers of online chat sites explains why.

Tablets

Kid-focused tablets usually come with the best built-in controls.

• Amazon Fire Kids tablets use Amazon Kids profiles and the Parent Dashboard. Our Fire tablet parental controls guide walks through it.
• iPads use Family Sharing and Screen Time. On iPadOS 27, a child's controls are under Settings > Family > [child's name].
• Android tablets use Google Family Link.

Smartwatches

Kids' smartwatches are often a first step before a phone. Before handing one over:

1. Set it up through the parent's phone app, not on the watch alone.
2. Limit contacts to a list you approve.
3. Turn off features your child doesn't need yet.
4. Decide on location-sharing rules and explain them.
5. Set a schooltime mode if the watch supports it. Apple Watch, for example, offers Schooltime for kids' watches managed through Family Setup.

Smart speakers and displays

Smart speakers seem harmless, but they can play explicit music, make purchases, and in some cases make calls.

• Turn off voice purchasing, or require a confirmation code.
• Turn on explicit-content filters in the music settings.
• Use the kids' mode where available. Amazon Echo devices, for example, can use Amazon Kids profiles with their own time limits.
• On smart displays with cameras, check where the camera cover or off switch is.

Connected toys, drones and robots

Many toys now connect to an app or the internet: robots, drones, interactive dolls, coding kits, and cameras built for kids.

Before using one, check:

• Does it need an account? If so, what information does it ask for, and can you use minimal details?
• Does it have a microphone or camera? Can they be switched off?
• Does it talk to other users online? Turn off any chat or sharing you don't need.
• What does the privacy policy say about recording, storing, and sharing your child's data? If you can't find one, that's a warning sign.
• Can you update the firmware? Toys that never receive updates can develop security holes.

Drones carry an extra consideration: local rules about where they can be flown. Check them before the first flight.

Streaming sticks and TVs

A new streaming device or smart TV in a child's bedroom deserves the same attention as a phone. Set up a kids' profile in each streaming app, put a PIN on adult profiles and on purchases, and turn on any built-in content rating limits. If the TV has a web browser, consider a network-level filter. Our guide to parental control tools that cover every device in your home explains how.

Talk about the rules on day one

Set expectations at the same time as the gift: where the device lives at night, how long it can be used on school days, and what to do if something online makes them uncomfortable. Children accept rules more easily when they come with the new toy than when they're added after a problem.

The bottom line

Before you wrap a tech gift:

1. Charge it and install any updates.
2. Create a child account linked to yours.
3. Install the matching parent app on your phone.
4. Set time limits, age ratings and spending limits.
5. Restrict chat and contact with strangers.
6. Turn off features your child doesn't need.
7. Write down every PIN somewhere safe.