So your kids want to go online. They love that ipad and that iphone. Let’s face it, the next generation are being raised with tech, so let’s make sure they use it safely.
For all kids, it’s good to put barriers on their ipad or on your phone that won’t allow them to do in-app purchases. If you don’t yet have in-app purchases disabled, go do it now.
There’s nothing worse than waking up to a bill for nearly a thousand dollars (or even $20) for in-app purchases you had no idea your little one was doing.
Many phones are set so that they allow purchases up to 15 minutes once a password is put in or a purchase is used. This means if you download a game for your child and then hand the ipad over to them, they could potentially buy in-app purchases for up to 15 minutes. That’s enough time to do some damage. Especially when the game is saying they must have 100 diamonds to keep playing. Uh-oh!
Don’t fear, there is something you can do to stop this potential disaster on your credit card. Change the time your device can hold onto a password. This is for iphones and ipads:
Go to “Settings” then “General” then to “Restrictions.” When you turn restrictions on you need to enter a four digit key. Do not share this with your kids.
Once in the “restrictions” screen, do the following to make your ipad child-proof for purchases:
Turn the following “Off”
- Installing Apps
- Deleting Apps
- In-App Purchases
- Change “Required Password” to “immediately”
For older kids, set rules about time spent online, about the types of sites they can visit, and let them know you’ll be checking up on things from time to time. This is to keep them safe, not to be a snoop.
If your kids have a device of their own or are on any social media, it’s not a bad idea to keep a list of their passwords so that you can have access. Let them know you’ll be doing this, or you could even do it together, and check out their feeds from time to time.
Just make sure you respect your older child’s privacy and don’t abuse this access.
