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A first phone gets dropped, sat on, left at 2% battery and stuffed into a backpack. The right few accessories protect the phone and make it easier to live with. The most important "accessory" is free, though: the parental controls already built into iPhone and Android.
We don't get paid for these picks, and the product links go to the makers' own pages.
Start with the free part: parental controls
We won't repeat the steps here, because Apple and Google keep them current on their own help pages (linked in "The 8 pages we checked" box at the end):
- iPhone or iPad: Apple's "Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad" and "Use Screen Time to manage your child's iPhone or iPad." Apple says Screen Time's parental controls can help you manage the apps and websites your child can access, who they communicate with and when they use their devices. Apple also says it's important that your child has their own Apple Account and isn't sharing an account with anyone else.
- Android: Google's "Get started with Family Link." Google says parents can use Family Link to decide which apps a child can download or purchase, set a bedtime or daily screen limits, and check the location of the child's Android device. Google also notes Family Link may not be available in all countries or regions.
Then talk through the scams kids are most likely to see. Our Is This a Scam? guide for parents, kids and grandparents is a good one to read together.
The 5 picks at a glance
- OtterBox Defender Series Pro (iPhone 17): a rugged case with port covers
- OtterBox Glass Screen Protector (iPhone 17): a glass layer over the display
- Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter: a spare charger for school or a second home
- Belkin SoundForm Mini: volume-limited headphones for young kids
- Apple AirTag (2nd generation): a tracker for the backpack, for iPhone families
Cases and screen protectors fit one phone model each. We used the iPhone 17 versions as the example; check that the listing matches your child's phone exactly.
1. OtterBox Defender Series Pro (iPhone 17)
Who it's for: kids who drop things, which is most of them.
| Spec | OtterBox iPhone 17 Defender Series Pro Case (official) |
|---|---|
| Fits | iPhone 17 |
| Build | Tri-layer: polycarbonate layer, thermoplastic elastomer slipcover, polycarbonate holster |
| Features | Raised edges for camera and screen; port covers; textured grip; built-in strap anchors; built-in magnets for MagSafe accessories; integrated Camera Control button |
| Holster | Free holster available (post purchase); clips to belts or bags and works as a kickstand |
| Size and weight | 6.36 in x 3.32 in x 0.60 in (161.54 mm x 84.44 mm x 15.14 mm); 0.14 lbs (63.44 g) |
| Price | $69.99 (list price on OtterBox's site as of Oct 23, 2026) |
Our read: Port covers and raised edges are the details that matter for a kid, and the built-in anchors let you add a phone strap. It's a lot of case, which is the point.
Skip it if: your child cares about a slim phone. At 0.60 in thick, it adds real bulk. It's also the priciest item in this list.
2. OtterBox Glass Screen Protector (iPhone 17)
Who it's for: covering the screen alongside the case.
| Spec | OtterBox iPhone 17 Glass Screen Protector (official) |
|---|---|
| Fits | iPhone 17 |
| Material | Aluminosilicate |
| Hardness | 9H surface hardness |
| Features | Drop defense for shatter resistance; scratch protection; resists fingerprints and smudges |
| Install | Install kit included |
| Price | $39.99 (list price on OtterBox's site as of Oct 23, 2026) |
Our read: A cracked protector is cheaper to replace than a cracked screen, and the included install kit helps if you've never applied one.
Skip it if: you're on a tight budget. At $39.99 it's not cheap for a protector. Check that it lists your exact phone model.
3. Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter
Who it's for: a spare charger to leave at a grandparent's house, a second home or in a school bag.
| Spec | Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter (official) |
|---|---|
| Output | 20W |
| Connector | USB-C |
| Price | $19.00 (list price on Apple's site as of Oct 23, 2026) |
Our read: A second charger cuts down on the "my phone died" calls, and Apple's own adapter is a simple choice for an iPhone.
Skip it if: you already have a USB-C charger at home that works. Apple says the charging cable is sold separately. For charging habits that protect the battery, see Phone Charging Myths; if it won't charge at all, try Phone Won't Charge?.
4. Belkin SoundForm Mini
Who it's for: younger kids who use the phone or a tablet for videos and schoolwork.
| Spec | Belkin SoundForm Mini (official) |
|---|---|
| Age | Designed for kids 3 and up |
| Volume | Maximum volume of 85dB (Belkin's footnote: maximum 85 dB in Bluetooth mode) |
| Battery | Up to 30 hours |
| Charging | USB-C; 10-minute charge gives up to 3 hours of playtime |
| Wired option | 3.5mm aux cable included |
| Other | Built-in microphone; 2-year warranty |
| Price | $32.99 (list price on Belkin's site as of Oct 23, 2026) |
Our read: Belkin caps the maximum volume at 85 dB in Bluetooth mode. Belkin pitches it for distance learning and long car rides.
Skip it if: you plan to use the aux cable most of the time. Belkin's footnote limits the 85 dB maximum to Bluetooth mode, and the page doesn't say what applies with the cable.
5. Apple AirTag (2nd generation)
Who it's for: iPhone families who want to find a lost backpack, keys or a bike.
| Spec | AirTag (2nd generation) (official) |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Apple Account; iPhone with iOS 26.0 or later, or iPad with iPadOS 26.0 or later |
| Battery | User-replaceable CR2032 coin cell; Apple says it lasts more than a year |
| Water and dust | Rated IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529 |
| Sharing | Share with up to five people |
| Anti-stalking | Apple says if someone else's AirTag is traveling with you, your iPhone or Android phone will notice and send an alert |
Our read: Apple pitches AirTag for items, like keys and bags, and that's how we'd use it here: on the backpack, not as a way to track a child.
Skip it if: your family uses Android phones, since Apple lists an iPhone or iPad as a requirement. To see where your child's phone is, use the built-in options instead: Google says Family Link can show the location of a child's Android device. Apple's page doesn't show a price.
Setting up the phone itself
If the first phone is a holiday gift, Phone Battery Draining Fast? has free fixes for the moment it starts dying by lunchtime.
The 8 pages we checked
- Apple Support: Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
- Apple Support: Use Screen Time to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
- Google For Families Help: Get started with Family Link
- OtterBox: iPhone 17 Defender Series Pro Case
- OtterBox: iPhone 17 Glass Screen Protector
- Apple: 20W USB-C Power Adapter
- Belkin: SoundForm Mini Wireless On-Ear Headphones for Kids
- Apple: AirTag