Nowadays, we spend most of our time looking at our device screens. As much as we value our expensive devices, it is good to take a little break from them or at least come up with ways to define the amount of time we spend staring at our screen.
It is even worse when it comes to children. Having children at this age of technology presents parents with a lot of challenges.
Among these challenges is being able to control the amount of time your children spend watching screens, and also the kind of apps and services they can access while using their iPhone.
For a long time, parents lacked reliable options to control the activity of their kids on the iPhone or iPad. Features such as Restrictions and Guided Access helped to some extent but was not enough.
Luckily, parents can now take control thanks to Screen Time, a new feature for iOS 12.
What is Screen Time?
Screen time refers to the amount of time we spend using screened devices such as smartphones, television, computer, or Screens connected to video game consoles.
While screens play an important role in the development of our kids, sometimes they can have adverse effects depending on the amount of time the kids spend on them. The more time your children spend on these screens, the less likely they’ll have time to do other important things.
Screen Time is a combination of past parental controls and other new tools. With Screen Time, you can have real-time reports about the amount of time you spend on your iPhone and set limits of what you want to use.
With it, you can set a screen-time schedule, disable some apps, and restrict downloads, purchases, and privacy. It also lets you know the amount of time your kids spend on websites, apps, etc.
Below you’ll learn how to set up screen time on your iPhone.
Parental Tools that Screen Time Provides for Parents
Before we look at how to set up screen time on your device, let’s look at the tools that Screen Time for iOS provides for parents.
Downtime
You can use Downtime to prevent your child from using their iPhone at a certain time of the day. During Downtime, only calls and apps that you’ve chosen are allowed.
When set, Downtime will send a reminder 5 minutes before it comes into effect. You can also schedule Downtime for all apps during dinner so you can encourage family socializing.
Device Data Usage
Screen Time collects important information that enables you to assess how your child is using the screen. You can get a real-time report for that day or of the past seven days.
It will also let you know the amount of time you spend on each app, how often you pick your iPhone, and the number of notifications you receive per hour.
App Limits
With App Limits, you can set the amount of time that your children can use certain apps daily. For instance, you can use App Limits to set a 30-minute timer for all gaming apps in your child’s device.
The same can apply for other apps such as entertainment, social media, and education apps.
Setting Up Screen Time
1. Head to Settings and choose Screen Time
2. Select Turn On Screen Time
3. Tap Continue
4. Select My (Device), or My Child’s (Device)
After this, you’ll get real-time information about how you’re using your device, websites, and apps.
The best thing is that you can set Screen Time on your child’s device and create settings on your kid’s iPhone. Alternatively, you can use the option of Family Sharing to configure the device of your child using your device.
After setting up your child’s device, you can now look at the information and change settings from your iPhone using Family Sharing.
How to Set Content and Privacy Restrictions
1. Tap Screen Time on the Settings
2. Select Continue and select “My (Device)” or “My Child’s (Device).”
If you want to block any other person from changing the settings, tap Use Screen Time Password and set a password.
If you want to set up Screen Time on your kid’s iPhone, follow the prompts to get Parent Password, and then enter a password.
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn on Content & Privacy.
Be sure to use a different password from the one used in your device. If you want to turn off or change the passcode used on your kid’s iPhone, head to Settings > Screen Time > (the name of your child). After that tap on Turn Off Screen Time Password or Change Screen Time Password.
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Girl on Fire
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