The times have changed since you were a child, and it is perfectly normal to many for kids to have iPhones and iPads today. Even the younger ones love to use them, and they also love everything about them. From tapping and swiping the screen, to playing many of the available games.
Most of all, however, they enjoy using them for watching videos. So, if you have a child, it will probably want to play with an iOS device. However, you can’t just give them one and expect them to know how to act and what it is ok to do with it.
Instead, some sort of kid-proofing is in order, since you have to think about your child’s safety before anything else. So, that is what we are going to discuss today, and see five different things that you can do to keep your kid safe.
Wipe it clean
You have to make sure to remove all of your personal data from your aging iPhone or iPad before giving it away. The best and easiest way to do this is to perform a factory reset.
By doing this, everything that you did when it comes to modifying the phone and its content will go away. The iPhone will have a clear storage, and it will act as a new one.
Just to stay safe, consider doing a backup first, since the phone might still contain some things that you might need. If there is anything worth preserving, a backup will keep it safe, but at the same time, out of reach of your kid.
If you have upgraded your device to a new version and stored your data on the cloud, you have probably already done this. In case that you are not sure, you can always go to your device’s Settings. Proceed to the iCloud profile, and then go to iCloud Backup. Simply hit Back Up Now option, and that will do it.
Alternatively, you can also sync the phone with iTunes, and backup it on your Mac or PC. When you are done with doing this, simply return to Settings, go to General, and then to Reset. Inside, there is an Erase All Content and Settings option. This is the one you need, and it will return the device to its original state.
Make a new iCloud account for your child
Depending on how young your child is, you might think it early to make them an iCloud. However, they do grow alarmingly fast, and it won’t take long before they want an update for the phone. When that time comes, you can simply backup their data and finish it off easily.
Don’t worry if your child is younger than 13, you can still create an iCloud account for them. Simply do it under the ‘Family Sharing’, and you won’t have any issues. The iCloud account will open up many other options for when your kid is old enough to use them.
Also, the fact that your child has an iCloud account still doesn’t allow them to start using the web without your permission. You can completely modify what the child can and can’t do, but more on that later.
For now, go to Settings, tap your own iCloud username and choose Family Sharing option. After that, go to Add Family Member, and then Create an Apple ID for a child.
You will need to input some minimal data, including your child’s birthday, and agree to several disclosures and legalese. Next, choose your payment method for making purchases in the App Store. Finally, choose username and password that your kid will use.
Control what your child can do
If you have prepared your old iPhone for your child as we have explained so far, it is now time to decide what they can or can’t do. Some things simply aren’t child-friendly enough, and you should make sure that they are off-limits.
Once again, go to Settings, then to General, and then to Restrictions. Once in there, hit Enable Restrictions, and make up a passcode. After that, disable the features that you feel your child should not have access to. iTunes Store and Safari are probably the best place to start. Also, don’t forget to block the ability to install apps, and maybe a Camera app too.
Then, you have the ‘Allowed Content’. Remember to disable purchases, block grown-up movies, as well as music that you don’t want your child to listen to. TV shows, a well as books that are not appropriate for a young child should receive a block as well.
And don’t forget to decide which apps can access what of your kid’s personal data in the Privacy section. Finally, all the way down, at the bottom of Restrictions, you will find an option to disable access to friend adding, multiplayer games, and things like screen recording.
Hide Mail, Settings, and other apps
Make sure to also hide apps that your child is too young for using just yet. That includes mail app, Game Center, the entire App Store, and even Settings.
You this by creating a hidden folder on the last of your device’s home screens. Just drag one app after another and put them in the folder. Of course, kids will soon figure that out, but kids usually don’t care about things like that, if they can’t lead them to what they want.
Enable Airplane mode
Cutting the internet access completely is one of the easiest ways of making sure that kids won’t end up where you don’t want them to. Simply activate Airplane mode, and with one tap, it will all go away.
For the newer versions of your iOS that has system version 6 or later, disabling home-screen is also a good idea. Also, disable in-app access to the Control Center, and the button that allows them to turn off Airplane mode. Do it by going to Settings once more, and then to Control Center.
In there, switch off Access Within Apps and Access to Lock Screen. Naturally, Control Center won’t be disabled completely if you do this, but it will make it harder to find.
Conclusion
Giving your child an iPhone to play with is a natural part of growing up today. They have to learn how to use technology, since it has become a crucial part of our lives, for better of worse.
However, that still doesn’t mean that they should have full access at such a young age. By following simple instructions from this guide, you can make sure that your kids won’t end up where they are not supposed to go. Introduce them to tech devices and their potential, but keep some of the higher functions for when they are little older.
