How to Set Up an Android Phone For Kids
1. Create a user account
The first step is to register a user account – Apple ID or Google account. In both cases children, under13 parents should do it.
On Android, this is done through “Settings” → “Restore and reset” → “Factory data reset”
→ “Reset phone settings” → “Erase everything”. On iOS, go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase Content and Settings.
iOS
On iPhones, a child’s Apple ID is created through Family Sharing in the parent’s or guardian’s account. Go to Settings → Apple ID → Family Sharing → Add Family Member → Create Child Account.
Then enter the details of the little user and follow the prompts. If Family Sharing hasn’t been activated yet, you’ll need to turn it on first. Make no mistake when specifying the age: it will not be possible to change it later.
2. Turn on The Screen Lock
The smartphone contains photos, videos, and a lot of other personal information that is not intended for prying eyes. Therefore, the data must be reliably protected, and screen locking is one of the first lines of security.
The offer to add a passcode, pattern, fingerprint or face unlock usually appears when you first start the device, but if you missed it for some reason, you can do the same in the settings.
Android
Go to Settings → Security → Screen Lock and select one of the available options.
iOS
Go to “Settings” → “Face (Touch) ID and passcode”, and then activate one of the methods and select in which cases it will be used.
3. Activate Two-Factor Authentication
It is recommended to do this for adult accounts as well, but in the case of a child account, additional protection will definitely not be superfluous.
After activating two-factor authorization, entering it and any attempts to manage it will be possible only after entering a confirmation code that is sent to a trusted phone number. It is best if it is the parent’s number.
Android
Open the page with the Google Account settings. In the “Security” section, select “Sign in to your Google account” → “Two-step verification”, click “Get started” and follow the prompts.
iOS
Go to iPhone settings, open Apple ID & iCloud → Password & Security → Two-Factor Authentication. Click “Enable” and follow the instructions to add your phone number.
4. Turn on Family Sharing
Family group capabilities allow you to share purchased content and allow on-demand purchases. And also limit the time of using the device, view the location, and use other convenient features.
Android
To turn on family sharing, open the voice assistant on your smartphone, say “Ok Google, create a family group” and follow the instructions on the screen.
The most convenient way to manage your group is to install the Family Link app. To add a child to the family, go to the menu, select “Family group” → “Invite family members”. After that, you can select a family member and configure the allowed actions as you like.
iOS
If you have already created a child account, then you have family access turned on. You can skip this step.
5. Add a Request To Buy and Download Apps
To give your kids the freedom to choose while maintaining control over overspending, the Approve Purchase feature comes in handy. It is available on Android and iOS and works in much the same way.
When a child initiates a purchase or free download (depending on settings), you receive a notification where you can approve or cancel the download.
Android
Open your child’s profile in the Family Link app, go to Settings → Actions on Google Play → What needs approval.
iOS
Open “Settings” → Apple ID → “Family Sharing” → “Ask to Buy”, and then turn on the toggle switch of the same name in the child’s profile.
6. Limit Inappropriate Content
There are also features to prevent your child from accessing sexually explicit content, violent content, and other objectionable web pages and searches.
To set the age limit, go to the child’s profile in the Family Link settings and in the “Google Play Actions” section, set the necessary restrictions for games, applications, movies, music, and other content.
To block web content in the “Google Chrome Filters” section, enable the “Block adult sites” option, and in the “Google Search Filters” section – the “Safe Search” setting.
iOS
On iPhone, these settings can be controlled through Screen Time. To get started, this function will have to be enabled in the “Settings” → “Screen Time” menu. Age restrictions for music, movies, apps, and other content are set under Content and Privacy → Content Restrictions.
You can turn off adult sites in the Web Content section, and search profanity in the Siri section.
7. Set Screen Time options
The function of limiting the use of time will help reduce dependence on gadgets. It is available in both OS and allows you to determine the amount of time a child can spend a day on games, social networks, and certain applications.
Android
On Android, these settings are found in Family Link Settings → Android Apps. A list of all installed programs is displayed here, and for each, you can set the time of use, completely block it, or, conversely, remove any restrictions.
iOS
On iPhone, the settings you need are hidden under Screen Time → Application Limits. Restrictions can be set both for individual applications and for entire categories of programs.
In addition, you can set the so-called rest time, when only selected applications and phone calls will be available. There is also a whitelist of always available programs.
8. Turn on Geolocation View
A very useful function that will allow you to check where the child is at any time without bothering him with calls. In both Android and iOS, the location is displayed in real-time in the Family Link and Find My apps, respectively.
Android
To enable, go to the Family Link settings and in the “Location” section, turn on the “Transfer of geodata” toggle switch. After that, the current position of the child’s smartphone on the map will be displayed on the main Family Link screen.
iOS
To see where your child is, you must first add them to the family group. Then you need to open the built-in Latitude application on the little user’s device, select “Share location” on the “People” tab, then enter the parent’s phone number, send a request and specify the option “Share indefinitely”.
9. Set Up information in Case of Phone Loss
There is a certain degree of risk that a child will forget or lose his gadget somewhere. For such cases, it is convenient to play it safe and add a phone number and a message to the lock screen with a request to return the device.
Android
There are two options for displaying text on the Android lock screen. Permanent display of a specified message, for example, with a phone number, can be set in the section “Settings” → “Display” → “Advanced settings” → “On block. screen ”→“ Text on-screen ”.
You can also block the device and enable the display of the specified text through a special Google page. You will need to log into your account, select “Block device” and specify a message.
iOS
On iPhone, you can display a message with a phone number and other information after turning on Lost Device Mode. To do this, open the built-in Locator application from one of the family owner’s gadgets, select the child’s smartphone from the list of devices and click Mark as Lost.
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