Parental Controls

17 items · Home · Easy difficulty · 30 min

Quick, practical steps to set up parental controls and keep kids safe online.

• Create supervised child accounts on each device and platform

  Use Apple Family, Google Family Link, Microsoft/Xbox child accounts where available.

• Set a parental control PIN or passcode and store it securely

  Prevent kids from changing settings; save in a password manager or secure note.

• Set screen time limits per device

  Apply limits per device and sync rules across linked child accounts when possible.

• Set daily and bedtime limits on smartphones (iOS/Android)

  Use Screen Time on iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android to schedule downtime.

• Set app-specific limits on tablets

  Restrict high-use apps and set individual time caps for games and social apps.

• Limit console and TV gaming hours

  Set weekday and weekend windows and daily playtime for Xbox/PlayStation/Nintendo.

• Enable web and app content filters on your router and services

  Turn on family or safe filtering at the network level and in browsers.

• Customize content categories to block (violence, adult, gambling)

  Tailor filters to the child’s age and block unsafe categories.

• Turn on SafeSearch on browsers and search apps

  Enable SafeSearch in Google, Bing and within each browser used at home.

• Enable YouTube Kids or turn on Restricted Mode in YouTube

  Use YouTube Kids for young children; use Restricted Mode for older kids.

• Review and approve age-appropriate apps and downloads

  Require parental approval for new apps and check age ratings before allowing.

• Enable app and in-app purchase controls requiring parental approval

  Turn off one-click purchases and require authentication for purchases.

• Enable location sharing and set visibility rules for teens

  Agree which family members can see location and when sharing is allowed.

• Review privacy and sharing settings in social apps

  Set accounts to private, limit who can message or tag, and review friend lists.

• Schedule regular privacy and screen-time conversations with your child

  Set a monthly reminder to review rules and adjust limits together.

• Sign out and remove child access from old or unused devices

  Deauthorize old devices and change passwords if a device is lost or replaced.

• Test settings while signed in as a child account to confirm restrictions

  Try opening blocked content and requesting apps to verify controls work.

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