Help! How Do I Child Proof My Devices?

Kids these days seem to know a lot more about technology from a young age than most of us did at that age, with many of them knowing how to unlock smart phones and find their favourite apps. How many times have you seen parents with cracked screens or their child sending messages to people they shouldn’t be? It is easy to avoid these scary situations with our easy steps to help child proof your device below.

1. Lock it

Did files and pictures disappear on your device all of a sudden? Did your carefully arranged icons and shortcuts turn into confusing mess? You can avoid these from happening by simply locking your device. If you’re using an iOS device like an iPad or iPhone you can set up a passcode or turn on Touch or Face ID, because we all know kids don’t remember how to keep their room clean, but they all seem to remember the passcode they’ve seen you type in to your phone once. The same thing applies if you have an Android device, or you can also choose a swipe pattern to unlock it.

2. Enable restrictions

Our devices contain important details about our lives, invaluable contacts, important dates and emails that can cause havoc if deleted or lost. Certain devices such as iPads can also restrict the applications, programs, or websites that your child can access. That way, you can let them use the device without any risk of losing or altering your precious data. Some devices have specific modes for children, which will make enabling restrictions much easier.

On an iOS device, you can do this by going to Settings > Screen Time and then enabling Content and Privacy Restrictions, or setting up Screen Time for Family. Once this is enabled you can then choose which apps your child can access. Enabling restrictions also requires you to set up a passcode, which you’ll need to turn the setting on or off. Just don’t forget your passcode because otherwise, you’ll have to reset your device and erase all the data that’s in it.

3. Set up a guest account/separate profile

Another alternative to enabling restrictions is setting up a guest account. On a Macbook, for example, a guest account can let the user (i.e. your child) access all of the apps on the device, but any change that they make and files they created will be deleted after they log out.

You may also set up a separate profile for your child on your device. This will let you control what they can do on the device, while enabling them to save any files that they created when they’re logged in.

4. Put a case on it

Regardless of the brand or type of device you have, all devices cost a good deal of money and even more money to replace broken parts. As most parents know, children do not understand how fragile our devices can be and they can often treat them like their other toys and throw them on the floor, which can make our heart skip a beat waiting to see the damage.

If you’re happy for your kids to play with your devices, a case can be a lifesaver. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive one, but any layer of protection for your device is good. If you want to be extra careful, invest in cases that can take bumps and falls. There are also childproof cases that usually come with handles and shockproof materials, making them perfect for your device if you’re going to let your child use it.

5. Supervise its use

Finally, please remember that child locks, restrictions, and putting a case on your device can only protect it so much. It’s important to always supervise your child when they’re using your computer, phone or tablet to avoid any irreparable damage.