Although Christmas might be the most popular time for gift-giving, let’s face it – birthdays, confirmations, celebrations and other special occasions make it a year-round pursuit!
Our research shows that in Ireland, smart device ownership reaches 100% by the age of 14, which is why we’ve designed this handy CyberSafeKids Gadget Gift Guide to help you — as parents and guardians — be better informed before purchasing smart devices (any device with internet connectivity) for your children and young people.
This easy-to-read reference guide is available to download or read below and covers:
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The benefits and risks of popular smart devices and toys
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What you can do to make them safer for your child
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Age recommendations to guide your purchases
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Useful links to official manufacturer websites for more information
Whether you're gifting a smart device at Christmas or any other time of year, we hope this guide helps you to give your child a safer online experience.
TOP TIP: Whatever the smart device, don't allow it into bedrooms at night – charge devices in communal areas in the house overnight!
'Gadget Gift Guide' Webinar
Join Ann Harte, one of our most experienced CyberSafeKids trainers, for this parent and guardian-focused webinar about making the right present choices this Christmas! If you're thinking of gifting any kind of smart device this year – a phone, tablet, gaming console, wearable or smart toy – this webinar walks you through our new Gadget Gift Guide, providing lots of tips and practical advice to buying the right present and keeping your children safer online this holiday season.
Please click on the button below or video to the right to watch the webinar recording.
Did you know that...
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59% of 8–12 year olds own a tablet, making it the most popular smart device with that age group.
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Gaming is the most common way for 8-12 year olds to spend their time online, and 57% of them have their own gaming console.
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Smartphones jump from being the third most popular device (49% ownership) amongst 8–12 year olds in primary schools to being the most popular device amongst 12–14 year olds (97% ownership).
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19% of 8-12 year olds wear a smartwatch?
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85 decibels (about the noise of a food blender) is the maximum recommended volume for a child’s headset.
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The most common immersive technology for children to own is a VR headset, with 11% ownership amongst Irish 8-12 year olds.
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You need to be cautious with any toy that features cameras or microphones, requests and stores data, tracks location, and has internet connectivity.
*All statistics taken from CyberSafeKids Trends & Usage Data. If you want to find out more you can read our our most recent report here.