I used to curse Samsung for not having the parental controls built into their device like apple products. Now I am changing my tune as I'm seeing the apps I can use to even betters manage screentime for my children as they learn to manage their use of this useful and equally dangerous new technology. I've learned that although Apple has some parental controls built in, it doesn't allow 3rd party apps to do that sort of thing. I found the controls helpful to limit content accessibility, but not time spent. Google play has lots of parental control apps for this purpose ad
What I've Done
First and foremost I have set up opendns to filter Internet content from our internet connection and shut down things after bedtime.
Second step was to find apps that allowed me to limit accessibility of apps, downloads, as well as remote lockdown and tracking of app useage. I'm all about self mastery of these tools, but let's face it, with children, there is a learning curve and helping that curve along by establishing/forcing some good habits, is sometimes necessary. The apps I selected were Timeaway and Screentime.
This is day one, so I may edit this later. For now I have installed 2 apps on our Samsung Galaxy tablets. They May end up conflicting one another, but I'm going to give it a shot. It did seem to matter which one I installed first, so here is the description in order of installation.
Timeaway
This app installs on parent tablet as well as on each child tablet and is controlled entirely on the parent tablet. Timeaway functions based mostly on total time useage. You set a daily limit and which apps contribute to that limit. You can also block apps entirely (like play store and google movies). This app will also show how much time was used in each app over time. It also allows remote locking of the child's device via parent device.
You first install it on your tablet and set up your account using a google account and clicking "parent" account type. Then install the app on each tablet and when prompted to login, use that google account and selecting kid account type and enter the name you want to associate with that tablet. Once you 'have done this. You will do the rest of your setting up on the parent tablet by selecting the name of the tablet you wish to modify.
Screen Time
This app needed to be installed second or it messed up Timeaway installation. It is controlled on the specific tablet it is installed do on.(I believe the paid subscription allows remote access and other features). This app functions on time periods rather than amount of time. It gives you specific and customizable times the tablet and certain apps can be used or even block certain apps altogether. Default schedules include school, bedtime, and Bedtime, school, etc... this all comes with the free version. You can set up bedtime so that select apps like reading or calendar are still available but games are not. Then there is a lights out when the whole tablet is shut down. To access the app, you must login with your 5 digit code. This code can also be used to temporarily lift a restriction and seems to last until the app is closed again. When you try to access an app that has been restricted, you see a screen that tells you why, like its school time, and offers other available apps to pick from.
I anticipate some bugs as I try to use these 2 apps in tandem, but here's t hoping it works! They both have good features so I hope they play nice together.
What I've Done
First and foremost I have set up opendns to filter Internet content from our internet connection and shut down things after bedtime.
Second step was to find apps that allowed me to limit accessibility of apps, downloads, as well as remote lockdown and tracking of app useage. I'm all about self mastery of these tools, but let's face it, with children, there is a learning curve and helping that curve along by establishing/forcing some good habits, is sometimes necessary. The apps I selected were Timeaway and Screentime.
This is day one, so I may edit this later. For now I have installed 2 apps on our Samsung Galaxy tablets. They May end up conflicting one another, but I'm going to give it a shot. It did seem to matter which one I installed first, so here is the description in order of installation.
Timeaway
This app installs on parent tablet as well as on each child tablet and is controlled entirely on the parent tablet. Timeaway functions based mostly on total time useage. You set a daily limit and which apps contribute to that limit. You can also block apps entirely (like play store and google movies). This app will also show how much time was used in each app over time. It also allows remote locking of the child's device via parent device.
You first install it on your tablet and set up your account using a google account and clicking "parent" account type. Then install the app on each tablet and when prompted to login, use that google account and selecting kid account type and enter the name you want to associate with that tablet. Once you 'have done this. You will do the rest of your setting up on the parent tablet by selecting the name of the tablet you wish to modify.
Screen Time
This app needed to be installed second or it messed up Timeaway installation. It is controlled on the specific tablet it is installed do on.(I believe the paid subscription allows remote access and other features). This app functions on time periods rather than amount of time. It gives you specific and customizable times the tablet and certain apps can be used or even block certain apps altogether. Default schedules include school, bedtime, and Bedtime, school, etc... this all comes with the free version. You can set up bedtime so that select apps like reading or calendar are still available but games are not. Then there is a lights out when the whole tablet is shut down. To access the app, you must login with your 5 digit code. This code can also be used to temporarily lift a restriction and seems to last until the app is closed again. When you try to access an app that has been restricted, you see a screen that tells you why, like its school time, and offers other available apps to pick from.
I anticipate some bugs as I try to use these 2 apps in tandem, but here's t hoping it works! They both have good features so I hope they play nice together.
