Set up Parental Controls for the iPhone or IPad | iTunes Store – Part 12A

This is one in a series of blog posts I have put together describing how to setup parental controls for an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch. If you find this material helpful, you may want to download the Kindle version of my Book. It contains even more information to guide you through the steps to ensure your child’s iPhone is secure.

Section 8 – ITunes Store

Regardless of whether your child is allowed to make his or her own purchases on his or her phone, I recommend setting him up with a separate iTunes account. There are several advantages to do this.

Separate accounts mean that your purchases, such as apps and music, for your child’s phone won’t show up on your own phone.
You can lock down your child’s spending. You don’t have to set up an account. Rather, you can set up an allowance to limit his monthly spending.
You can set up content restrictions for his account, yet those restrictions won’t affect your own phone.

I would recommend creating a separate limited user account on your PC for your child. You can then install iTunes under this account and lock it so your child can’t change the restrictions.

*Set up iTunes for Your Child’s iPhone

First we’ll create a separate window account so that we can set up separate settings than you have on your main iTunes account. Follow these instructions to create the account and launch iTunes.

Create a limited user account on our PC for your child. In windows 7 you can do this by searching for Create Standard User from the Start Menu.
Once you create the account, switch users and sign into the newly created account.
Launch iTunes. If you don’t have iTunes installed on the computer, then go to www.itunes.com and download a free copy.
Go to Preferences, then the Parental tab
As you did on the iPhone, set restrictions for various media, such as music and movies.
Lock your preferences. There is a padlock in the lower left that you can click to do this. Now only you, and not your child, can change the restrictions.

*Set up Your Child’s Apple ID

Now that iTunes is set up and locked down, create a separate iTunes account. We’ll link this account your main account. Then, if you choose so, you can give his account an allowance. This way your child is able to either purchase items using his allowance, use a gift card to purchase them. The benefit is that the account isn’t directly tied to your larger account, so your child can’t drain your bank account with unabated purchases!

To set up an iTunes account for your child:

Make sure you are logged into the PC using your account
Launch iTunes.
Go to the main menu and select iTunes Store, View My Apple ID…
Enter your Apple ID and Password and then click View Account.
Scroll down to the Settings section, locate Allowances and click on Manage.
Click on Create New Allowance.
Set up an iTunes Allowance. This step is necessary to create an Apple ID without providing a credit card. If you really don’t want to set an allowance, you can immediately suspend it, once the account is created. I did this and wasn’t charged.

Fill out the Recipient’s Name.
Set the Monthly Allowance to the desired amount, I chose $10.00.
If you don’t want the allowance to take effect, then under First Installment, select Don’t send now, wait until the first of the next month.
For the Recipient’s Apple ID, select Create an Apple ID for recipient.
Once you have completed this information, click Continue.

Now it is time to create the Apple Account which will be used by your child’s device to access the iTunes store.

Enter a valid email for the Recipient’s Email Address. This email is used as the Apple ID.
Enter the Recipients First Name, Last Name, and Birth Month and Day.
Enter the Recipient’s Password and then verify it.
Click Create to proceed to the next step.
Confirm your purchase. Read the verbiage carefully at the bottom of the screen. If you have followed these instructions, it should say you’ll be charged at the beginning of the next month.
Press Buy to continue.
On the Manage Allowances screen you should see the newly created account. This is the point at which you can click on Suspend to stop the allowance from being charged from your account.
Click OK to confirm.

Before we begin, check the email inbox corresponding to the new apple ID. You should see a confirmation message. Follow any instructions within that message to activate your account.

Log out of your primary account by selecting iTunes Store, Sign Out
Now click on iTunes Store, Sign In…
When prompted, enter the newly created Apple ID and Password, then click OK.
Click on Review on the pop-up screen.
Click Continue.
Read and Agree to the Terms and Conditions and Apple Privacy Policy. Click Agree to proceed.
On the Edit Apple ID screen, fill in any missing details and then click Continue.

Login with Child’s Apple ID

Summary

By creating a separate limited user account and separate Apple ID for use in iTunes you have isolated your child’s phone and iTunes usage from your primary account. By doing so, you are protecting your bank account or credit card for any unintentional in-app purchases.

This allows you to control the extent of purchasing you allow your child to make. Below we have identified three strategies from most to least restrictive that you can utilize to limit your child’s spending on iTunes:

Restrict Purchases – If you don’t want your child to make any purchases at all, then don’t give your child the password to the newly created windows account or Apple ID. In addition, restrict the iPhone from the iTunes store.
Approve Purchases – Don’t give your child the password to the newly created Windows account or Apple ID; however, don’t turn on the iTunes restriction. If your child wants to make an in-app purchase, he can come to you and you can enter the password for him. For this scenario to work you’ll still need some money in the child’s account, but you get to control where it is spent, as only you know the Apple ID password.
Limited Purchases – Allow your child to know the Apple ID password. Provide him either with an iTunes allowance or charge his account with some funds. Your child will be able to make limited purchases, but once his allowance or balance runs out, he won’t be able to spend any more money. This limits him from racking up a huge bill.

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If you find this material helpful, you may want to download the Kindle version of my Book. It contains even more information to guide you through parental control steps to ensure your child’s iPhone is secure.

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Set up Parental Controls for the iPhone or IPad | Restrict Content – Part 11

This is one in a series of blog posts I have put together describing how to setup parental controls for an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch. If you find this material helpful, you may want to download the Kindle version of my Book. It contains even more information to guide you through the steps to ensure your child’s iPhone is secure.

Allowed Content: Restrict Access to Specific Content Types

The second section we’ll review in the Restrictions area is “Allowed Content.” You can use these settings to restrict which music, movies, and TV programs are allowed on your phone.

The iTunes store contains a treasure trove of great music, videos, and games for your children; however, it is also a haven for adult content as well! Given that there are explicit materials and R-rated movies within the store, you should consider restricting access to some or all of this material.

Beware that these settings don’t apply to content viewed through a browser, YouTube, or through an app you may have installed on your phone; however, since a majority of content, such as music and apps come from the iTunes store, these restrictions are effective:

*Ratings For – Select the country’s rating system you wish to use. For instance, to change the country to United Kingdom:

tap Ratings For
Use your finger to slide down the screen to locate and tap United Kingdom.
When done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen.

*Music and podcasts – You can restrict music and podcasts containing explicit language. To change this setting:

Tap on Music & Podcasts
Then tap ON button to change the setting to either ON or OFF.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen

*Movies – Restrict which movies are available for use, such as R and PG-13 rated movies. To change this setting:

Tap on Movies
From the Allow Movies Rated, section, tap the ratings your child is allowed to view. For example, for a small child in the United States you may want to tap to uncheck all ratings except G.

As you tap, restricted groups change color to red. Also, as you tap to restrict, the current age group and those older are automatically unchecked. So in our example, by taping on G, we restrict all ages above G; no extra tapping is required.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen.

*TV shows – Restrict which TV shows, by rating, your child is able to view, such as TV-14 and TV-MA. Changing the restrictions for TV shows is similar to movies:

Tap on TV Shows
From the Allow TV Shows Rated, section, tap the youngest ratings your child is allowed to view. For a small child in the United States you’ll want to tap to uncheck all ratings except TV-Y.

As you tap, restricted groups change color to red. Also, as you tap to restrict, the current age group and those older are automatically unchecked. So in our example, by taping on TV-Y, we restrict all ages above TV-Y; no extra tapping is required.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen.

*Books – Restrict young readers from explicit sexual content. To prevent your child from sampling, downloading, and reading books with explicit sexual content:

Tap on Books
Then tap ON button to change the setting to either OFF, vice versa.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen

*Apps – Apps are naughty and nice, too. You may wish to restrict 12+ and 17+ apps on your phone.

Changing the restrictions for Apps is similar to movies and TV shows:

Tap on Apps
From the Allow Apps Rated, section, tap the oldest rating your child is allowed to view. For a small child in the United States you’ll want to tap to uncheck all ratings except 4+.

As you tap, restricted groups change color to red. Also, as you tap to restrict, the current age group and those older are automatically unchecked. So in our example, by taping on 4+, we restrict all ages above 4+; no extra tapping is required.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen.

*In-app purchases – Restrict your child from making an in-app purchase. It is overwhelmingly tempting to spend $.99 for the next Angry Birds level; while this does not sound costly at first, one must consider how many levels exist, just waiting to be purchased.

To change this setting, tap the ON button. You can toggle the setting to ON or OFF by repeatedly tapping it.

*Require Password – We recommend you change this setting from 15 Minutes to Immediately. This means that a password will be required for every single individual purchase of apps or songs (if allowed).

To change this:

Tap on Require Password
Then tap on immediately.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen

Note: you should also set up a password requirement for purchasing music or an app from the iTunes store.

Privacy: Privacy Settings

Loophole! When you turn restrictions on, you’ll see a section for Privacy settings. This isn’t the only place you can change these settings as they can also be directly access from the main Settings screen. Don’t assume just because restrictions are set on, that the privacy settings are locked.

Allow Changes:

Some final items to consider are whether your child should be able to set up or change his email accounts, or to participate in multi-play games. Also, you can set the volume limit for headphones, which can help prevent damage to your child’s hearing.

You can choose to prevent changes to the following:

*Accounts – If you choose to allow your child to have an email account, set this to Don’t Allow Changes to stop your child from being able to set up additional accounts. This way you can keep tabs on his or her email. You’ll know the password, and you will be able to access the account via the web (e.g. by using a Gmail account).

To change this:

Tap on Accounts
Then tap on Don’t Allow Changes.
Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen

*Volume limit – Set the volume to a reasonable level and lock it to avoid damaging your child’s hearing.

To change this:

Tap on Volume Limit
Then tap on Don’t Allow Changes.

Once done, tap the Restrictions button in the upper left of the screen

Game Center:

You can choose to restrict features within Game Center:

Multiplayer games – If you’re nervous about your child interacting with others over the Internet, then you should turn this OFF. Note that you can add some friends, such as your child’s cousins, and then lock it down.

Tap the ON button to turn the feature OFF.

Adding friends – Once you have added friends, such as your brother, sisters, or cousins, you can set this restriction so that your child can’t add strangers as friends.

Tap the ON button to turn the feature OFF.

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If you find this material helpful, you may want to download the Kindle version of my Book. It contains even more information to guide you through the steps to ensure your child’s iPhone is secure.

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This is one in a series of parental controls blog posts I have put together describing how to setup parental controls for an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch. If you find this material helpful, you may want to download the Kindle version of my Book. It contains even more information to guide you through the steps to ensure your child’s [...]

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