Securing an iPad for Kid-Friendly Use – Introduction and Checklist
Background
My writing of all of these guides started with our 10 year old daughter being presented with highly inappropriate adverts in-between “games” on a colour by numbers app. The game itself is one of the top rated apps in the Apple charts. It states it contains adverts, but the app is appropriate to all ages, it’s a colour by numbers app, why wouldn’t it be!?!
The thing is, the adverts are controlled by a separate advert provider, Unity in this case. Apple have no control over what adverts are shown to the users of the apps, but I would have expected the adverts to remain within the guide age of the game. How wrong was I! The first advert she came to me about showed a scantily clad Manga character tied up, asking “what would you do to them”, the second, whilst I watched on, was for a game called “Kill the Buddy” where it demonstrated ways to kill a cartoon character person.
Not impressed, the paint by numbers app was side-lined and I embarked on the quest to find a way to block these adverts and show others how to simply set up parental controls and safety settings for iPads and iPhones for more a kid-friendly and safe experience.
Note, NONE of the built in Apple methods will stop inappropriate adverts. The advert providers can show what they want, however disturbing that may be (yes you can report an advert as inappropriate, but that won’t stop the next one). To block these (as of September 2024) look at the last item on the list.
Please note, none of these settings guarantees safety or protection from inappropriate things, talk to your children about their device usage and encourage them to come to you with any concerns.
Guided Checklist
Here is a guided checklist for securing your children’s iPad or iPhone for safer internet usage. Click each link for more details on how to setup, they open in a new tab and you can use this list to tick things off as you do them.
Download PDF Checklist
First choose the best way to manage restrictions –
Device Settings or Family Sharing – Which one? Click Here
How to configure local device settings. Click Here
How to configure family sharing. Click Here
Set the relevant security and control settings – Settings Page this is all the settings, and details on how to access them depending upon what method you choose.
Ensure you have a Screen Time Passcode (Local Device Settings only) – Prevent changes to your restrictions without a passcode.
Configure Downtime – Schedule periods where only allowed apps are accessible.
Set App Limits – Control and limit screen time, Configure Downtime . Local Family Sharing
Set Communication Limits – Restrict who your child can communicate with during both Screen Time and Downtime.
Communication Safety (Family Sharing only) – Prevent children sharing and accessing pictures and video containing nudity.
Use Always Allowed Apps List – Select apps that can always be used, even during Downtime.
Set Content & Privacy Restrictions – Block explicit content, restrict purchases, limit installing new apps and more.
Further Enhancing Safety:
Disable Control Centre Access from Lock Screen – Prevent use of Control Centre functions like Airplane Mode without unlocking the device. Click Here
Enable Guided Access for Specific Apps (Local Device Settings only) – Lock the iPad into a single app to limit use during certain times. Click Here
Block Inappropriate Adverts and Website – Enable family-friendly content filtering and malware protection. Click Here
