How to set up tablets and mobiles for children

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Pretty much all mobile phones and tablets except iPhone and iPad (Apple) have Android (Google) operating system. Here we have collected all the useful parental settings that can make the device safer for the children.

Since there are mobiles and tablets from many manufacturing companies in the market, the procedure may vary slightly depending on the maker and model.

Do you have an iPad or an iPhone? Here are parental settings.

 Steps described in the article summarized:

  1. Create your own Google Account as an adult
  2. Create a family group at Google
  3. Create your own account for the kids
  4. Use child’s account to log in to their devices (mobile phones or tablets)
  5. Set limits for your kids via the Family Link app, Google website, or on your device locally

Create your own Google Account (parents)

To manage your child’s device, you must first create your own Google Account as an adult. There is a limit of 13 years to have a Google Account. Therefore, children under the age of thirteen cannot create an account on their own.

However, parents can create an ‘adult account’ specified as an administrator and then create Google Accounts for the children. They can use this account on their own mobile phones or tablets.

With their own Google Account, children will get their own email address and password. At the age of 13, the child can take ownership of the account.

A new Google Account for adults can be created on the Google website or on the device itself.

Create a Google family group

The next step is to create a family group. With a family group, parents can create Google Accounts for the children and manage their mobile phones and tablets.

Then they can set a limit on screen time, reset the child’s password, set age restrictions on apps, and choose content filters.

As a family administrator you can:

  • Manage the family group
  • Create Google Accounts for children under 13
  • Add another parent to help manage the child’s account
  • Enter a payment method and approve or deny purchases that children make on their own devices

Learn more about using a family payment method and how to share purchased apps, games, music, and books with others in your family group.

You can create a family group with Google on this website or through the Family Link app that can be downloaded to both Apple devices and Android.

Separate accounts for the children

You can create accounts for children with the Family Link app. On an already registered device, you can remove all accounts and then set up a new account on behalf of your child at families.google.com/families.

Does the family share a tablet? An alternative might be for an adult to register an account in one’s own name and set up the tablet on his/her user level. If you choose this solution, it can be useful to turn on parental controls and restrictions for in-app purchases. This is done in the app store called Play Store.

Create a secure password

To prevent your kids from buying games and apps without permission: Create a password that your kids can’t access. Keep your password secret. For shopping in the Play Store, you must enter the password for making any purchase.

Turn on password requirements for all purchases:

Tap the three bars at the top of the Play Store and enter Settings. By selecting ‘Requires Authentication for Purchases’, you can choose whether the device should ask for a password every time you buy something or 30 minutes after the last purchase, or never. We recommend that you choose the first option.

Parental controls

Parental controls can be set up in two ways. If the mobile or the tablet is linked to your child’s own account, you can use the Family Link app. As a parent, you will then be able to manage your child’s tablet or mobile via an app on your mobile phone or from the Google website.

Or you can set up parental controls locally on a tablet that both parents and children share.

Restrictions on age limits can be set up in the Play Store. Beyond that, one should look for a separate submenu called «Parental Control» if this is available and set this up locally.

Family Link app provides a good overview

Open the app on your mobile phone. Select the child user. As a parent here you can:

  • Change your child’s password: Manage settings > account information
  • See your child’s location via their phone’s GPS: manage settings > location
  • View and limit app activity: tap the app activity menu > hourglass icon and set the limit next to a specific app (or block app)
  • Set screen time on a daily basis/adjust bedtime limits: tap the Screen Time menu > configure
  • Make parental approval necessary for any purchases your child makes: manage settings > tap control on Google Play> purchase and download approval
  • Set age limits for apps and games, movies, music, and more: manage settings > tap controls on Google Play> content restrictions
  • Turn on filters that block adult content webpages or only allow access to websites of your own choice: manage settings > filters in Google Chrome
  • Turn on a filter that attempts to screen out sexually explicit and violent content in Google searches: Manage settings > filters in Google Search
  • Allow and block apps: manage settings > android apps

Family Link is set up automatically when you create a user account for your child on a new tablet or mobile (Google Account under 13).

When it comes to keeping track of children’s GPS location and what apps they use, remember that children are increasingly entitled to and in need of privacy as they grow older. Trust and dialogue are most important – vigilance is better than surveillance.

Control parental settings from a web browser

All of the settings and procedures described above can also be found on Google’s website for managing a family group. In other words, you don’t have to use the app to manage your child’s device.

Local device parental controls

If a tablet is shared by both adults and children, parental control can be set up at the Play Store. Select Settings and Parental Controls. Here you can enter a code and set the age limits for downloading apps, games, and music.

  • Have a secure password for the Google Account
  • Also, remember to enter passwords for purchases in the Play Store and turn on Require Authentication.
  • You can also choose different payment methods such as credit cards or buying gift cards and make payment with that (if you do not want to use a credit card).

Other tips and advice:

  • Keep in mind that for mobile phones, it’s important to also set up restrictions on your mobile subscription so that no unexpected expenses are charged to the mobile bill.
  • You may also want to check through the permissions apps and games ask for to strengthen your children’s privacy. For example, if apps request access to contact lists and cameras

 (Written on 26.10.2018 and has been updated later. Translated from Norwegian by Ratan)

Utviklet som en del av Erasmus+ prosjektet «TeachingTools».