Family trips create lasting memories, but setting up your child's phone for safety makes for a worry-free summer trip. Here's what to do before you load up and leave.

Turn on parental controls
Parental controls are your first line of defense in ensuring your child's online safety. Make sure these settings are in place before you hit the road so you can manage what content your child can access, prevent downloads of inappropriate apps and restrict in-app purchases. By setting these boundaries, you can ensure your child’s online experience remains safe and age-appropriate.

Set up location tracking
Keeping track of your child's location is key when your family is visiting unfamiliar or crowded places, like airports or theme parks. Enable location services on their smartphone and make sure your child understands the importance of keeping this feature active. That way, you’ll always know where they’re at in real time. Find My iPhone for iOS or Family Link for Android both let you do it — and they're particularly useful in busy tourist areas where it's easy to get separated.

Manage screen time
Managing your child’s screen time helps your child maintain a healthy balance between digital and real-world activities. Set clear rules about how much time they can spend on their phone each day, then establish specific periods when they should put their phone away. Limit screen time during family meals and while sightseeing to make the most of your trip.

Pre-download educational and fun content
Before you hit the road, spend some time downloading educational apps, games or apps related to your destination. Then, when you’re traveling, your child can enjoy engaging content instead of scrolling social media. It’s a good idea to review and approve any content ahead of time to make sure it meets your family’s standards.

Encourage offline activities
Kids spend enough time on their phones even when you’re not traveling, so why let their device intrude on their lives even more? During your trip, encourage them to take advantage of outdoor activities like hiking, swimming or exploring local attractions to improve their physical and mental well being. Summer travel is a great time for balancing their digital diet with real-world experiences.

Sleep, don’t scroll
A good night’s sleep is essential, and even more so when traveling. Parental controls can be set to turn off screen usage at pre-determined times, such as an hour before bedtime. This not only helps promote better sleep habits, but it also ensures your child is well-rested for the next day’s activities.

Prepare for emergencies
Teach your child how to use their smartphone in case of an emergency. Make sure they know how to reach you, other trusted adults and emergency services. Storing important contact information in their phones and explaining when and how to use them can be lifesaving, whether you’re camping in the wilderness or hitting a massive theme park.

Ready, set, go
For safe and enjoyable summer travel, a well-prepared smartphone can be valuable. Follow these tips, and you’ll feel more confident and relaxed knowing your kids are safe and protected during your family adventures.

And if you need help, no worries. You can find a set-up guide here.

Connect & Protect from C Spire has a great range of phones and devices, and kids’ plans for every age and stage. For more, click here.