While the jury is out on whether kids should have access to tech when they’re so young, the one thing we can all agree on is that it’s important that they stay safe. Many apps, websites, and videos aren’t appropriate for the littlest people in the home.
Still not convinced of the benefits of parental controls? A Dad from Singapore got a nasty shock when his six-year-old son spent $6,000 on in-app purchases in two days.
If you want to know how to set up parental controls on your child’s phone or tablet, we’ve put together this short guide to help.
Apple iPad and iPhone
iPads and iPhones are the technology of choice for many parents. Not only are they easy for little people to use, but if you have Family Sharing in place, you can control your kid’s device from your own.
Family Sharing means you can share access to services, approve spending and locate each other’s tech if it goes missing. One person (the organiser) controls the settings, and you can also assign other parents/guardians too. You can then create accounts for any little ones in the household.
Find out more about Family Sharing and how to set it up
If you only have one iPad or iPhone, you can directly set parental controls from the device. Just go to settings, choose Screen Time and set a password. You can use this password to sign off on downloads and purchases, block apps and restrict websites.
Don’t share this password with your kids and make it different from the one they use to unlock the device. From our experience, little ones can be incredibly sneaky when trying to find out passwords.
More information about parental controls and restrictions
Android tablets and phones
An Android is a good choice if you’re looking for a kid-friendly tablet that won’t break the bank. As Android uses Google technology, there are also a wide range of features that mean your child can stay entertained, as well as safe.
Google offers a service called Family Link. You can use it to keep an eye on screen time, view their activity and even lock their device down when it’s time to go to bed or do homework.
You can access Family Link through an app on your phone. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can set it up online. You’ll need a Google account for this.
Find out more about Family Link and how to set it up.
Microsoft tablets and phones
With nearly 90% of UK households owning a PC, a Microsoft tablet or phone is a great option, especially if you have an older child using it to do homework.
Microsoft Family Safety lets you control your kid’s access settings, not only on laptops, computers and mobiles, but also on Xbox. You create a family group online, add family members, and then you can monitor their activity and authorise spending. You can even receive weekly emails summarising what’s been going on.
Find out more about Microsoft Family Safety
Get the speed you need for family browsing with Fibre Heroes
If the whole clan is on their tablets, phones and laptops, you need broadband that can keep up.
At Fibre Heroes, we’ve made it our mission to install high-speed full fibre cable in poorly connected towns across the whole of the country. You could enjoy broadband twenty times faster than the UK average.
Plus, as full fibre is more secure than traditional copper cable, you can sleep soundly in your home knowing that your family’s internet browsing is as safe as… well, houses.
Check out our speed test and find out how much faster your broadband could be.
