Like it or not technology is an everyday part of the learning journey for our primary school-aged children. The iPad is the interactive learning tool for the digital age and the device of choice for many schools. Now beyond working out how to childproof said iPad if dropped off the grade 4 second-story balcony or if there is an accidental drink bottle leakage, their online safety outside of your home is something that weighs heavily on a lot of parents.
In my experience, most schools will have a responsible technology use agreement that the children and parents sign at the beginning of the school year but how do know where they are and what they are up to on the journey to and from school.
To ease your mind, we have put together a little walk through the parental control setup and capabilities of Apple’s Screen Time. Screen Time will allow you to control their usage limits, what apps they can and can’t access, who they can communicate with and at what times and what content they have access to.
There are two ways you can set up Screen Time either from your Apple iPhone or directly on your child’s iPad.
Set Up On your child’s iPad
Downtime
Allows you to schedule time when the iPad cannot be used which is useful for device-free time overnight. Or on weekends to set there allocated screentime for the day.
App Limits
This is perfect for setting limits on particular apps. Setting limits on social media or gaming apps.
Communication Limits
You can set times when your child can be contacted by phone, FaceTime or message or who they can hear from. For example, during the school week they can make contact with their family members but not their friends and then on weekends you can set specific contacts they can have access to.
Always Allow
You may what your child to be able to access all the time. By default phone, messages, FaceTime, and Maps can be accessed but you can remove them from Always Allow.
Content and Privacy Restrictions
This is where you can be really specific about what content you want your children to see. You can limit types of music, tv shows, multiplayer games, the ability to add friends, age restrictions on apps. It is very comprehensive and inclusive of all apps and programs available on iPad or iPhone.
Set up from your iPhone
Important tips for iPad Learning