How to set-up an Android phone for a child – Guide
Parents, you need to think about what phone your child is going to want. If they are going to high school, they may want a feature phone like the Nokia 3310. But if they are going to college or university, then a smartphone is probably the best choice for them. Smartphones allow parents to communicate with their children while they are online and also provide other features that may be important for their education such as video calling and emailing.
How to to define-up an android phone for a child
Restricted profiles (on tablets)
Android doesn’t have specific parental controls built into the operating system, but it does offer a way to accomplish the same task, at least on tablets. If you’re running Android 4.3 or newer, it’s as easy as creating a secondary restricted profile and deciding which apps can be accessed by that user. You will need to have a screen lock set for your main profile to prevent children from simply leaving the restricted profile. Android will warn you during the process if you don’t have a lock set.
To add a new user or profile, go to Users and select Add User. From there, you can create a restricted profile separate from your own. You can give it a name of your own, then check out the list of apps shown. Some apps are automatically blocked by restricted profiles such as Calendar, Docs, Email and Twitter, while others allow you to enable or disable them. You may also see a small gear icon, which allows you to adjust access options (such as whether or not to allow Google searches).
To access the restricted profile on your device, just tap your own user icon on the lock screen and it will be listed below. Tap it and the device will switch to the restricted profile, keeping away your disallowed apps and options. You can also switch at any time by pulling down on the status bar at the top of the screen and tapping the icon. ..
Phone options
Android phones running any version of the operating system are not able to create restricted profiles. This is because restricting access can cause the device owner to miss calls and texts, which can be a problem if they rely on these features. However, there are ways to create separate user profiles for children on Android 5.0+ devices that keep them away from adult content and prevent others from contacting them without permission. You can also disable calls and texts so your child doesn’t use up your monthly data plan or contact people you don’t want them to. ..
To add a new user on an Android phone, go to Settings and select Users. You’ll see a small cog icon in the status bar and a ringtone that lets you toggle call and SMS support as desired. You can also add users by tapping the icon in the status bar or going to Settings > Users > Add New User. Once you’ve added a user, their profile will show up in the list of users and you’ll have access to all of their apps, settings, and data. ..
How to pin apps
Android 5.0+ introduces app pinning, which allows parents to lock a single app on the screen and block access to everything else. This is a convenient way to let children have fun without having to switch profiles or closely monitor their actions. We have one tutorial full on this feature, but here is the gist:
- Open the app you want to pin.
- Tap the three lines in the top left corner of the app’s screen.
- Select “App Settings.”
- Under “Screen Lock,” tap “App Pinning.”
- Enter your PIN code and tap “OK.”
- Select “All Apps” from the menu below and select the app you want to pin.
- Tap “Pin App” and confirm your selection by tapping “OK.” ..
To pin an open app, click on the overview button (the square in the lower right corner) and tap the pin icon shown on the app card.
Your child’s app is now pinned. Trying to escape will only bring up the note about the exit, which requires you to hold your back and the overview buttons simultaneously. If you have a PIN, performing this action will take you back to the lock screen. Otherwise, the app will close and your child will have complete freedom with their apps.
Play Store Restrictions
The Play Store app has parental controls that aren’t just limited to recent versions of the Android OS. To access the Settings screen in the Play Store, pull out the left navigation drawer. Scroll down to User Controls and from there, you will have access to media restrictions based on rating. You can limit app and game downloads by age, as well as restrict movies and TV shows by rating, songs with explicit lyrics, and books with sexual content. All you need is a PIN number to block access to the setup.
In the User Controls, you can find a setting for when and how often you will need to enter your Google password for paid app purchases. You can force the app to require a password with every new purchase, just once every 30 minutes, or never. If your child is playing with in-app purchases, which is almost all free games released today, make the password mandatory to avoid inadvertent spending.
To keep your kids safe from malware and objectionable content, you can disable “Unknown sources” in the Security settings menu. ..
Final note
This guide will show you how to set-up an Android phone for a child. If you have any query about this article, please ask us. Additionally, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.
