Parental Controls on Student Devices: What Parents & Educators Need to Know
When getting new devices for your family, there are many options for parental controls to help monitor and set expectations for your family. We recommend starting a Family Media Agreement and finding the right expectations and controls to help your students develop good habits with technology.
This SmartSocial VIP resource will help parents learn:
- How to get a free template for Family Media Agreement and how to start a dialogue with your student
- Why it's important to set parental controls on your students' devices
- Options for device settings on Apple and Android devices
Start with a Family Media Agreement and dialogue
View the SmartSocial Family Media Agreement template to see different options for creating and discussing expectations for any device with your students. Click here to view the full resource
.jpeg)
Why it's important to use parental controls
How smartphones can make students feel
- Stressed
- Anxious
- Depressed
There are also many safety concerns, including:
- Predators
- Online bullying
- Dangerous behaviors (for example, viral challenge videos)
Should I also use parental control software?
- It can be tough for parents to keep up with changes to the social media landscape
- There are many great educational tools and tracking control software that can help give parents peace of mind, but you still need to monitor activity
- The SmartSocial team has done the research for you. Find our recommendations in our Parental Control Software & Cell Phone Monitoring Comparison Guide
Apple Screen Time parental control guide
Click here to view the complete guide for Parental Controls on iPhones and other Apple devices
.jpeg)
Click here to learn how to turn off file sharing on an Apple or Android device
Android's Digital Wellbeing guide for parents
Click here to view the full resource for Android Digital Wellbeing: Complete Guide for Parents
Google Family Link parental control guide
.jpeg)
Click here to view the full resource for Family Link: Complete Guide for Parents
.jpeg)
Parental Controls on Amazon tablets
Amazon FreeTime parental controls let you choose what content your child sees, create educational goals, and set time limits by activity.
To get started, tap on the FreeTime app, select the profile for the child you would like to set limits for and choose “Set Daily Goals & Time Limits.” Tap the toggle to enable settings for your child.
Setting up Child Profiles
Child profiles allow each kid in your household to have a customized Amazon Kids+ experience.
What can Kids+ do? (According to Amazon)
- Establish a bedtime
- Set time limits
- Create goals
- Use Smart Filters
Managing content
Although there are thousands of books, apps, TV shows and movies within Amazon Kids+, each profile is customizable to add or remove content for a hand-crafted experience for each child.
What can be managed:
- Set language preferences
- Share titles you've purchased to your child's profile
- Remove subscription content from your child's profile
- Fire on the go
- Amazon Kids web browser
More parental control and student device resources
- Parental Control Software & Cell Phone Monitoring Comparison Guide
- 5 Tips for Improving Your family's Digital Security
- 5 Ways to Protect Your Kids in the Digital Age
- Top 5 kids cell phone safety tips for parents
- Can Monitoring apps Help Manage Screen Time?
- How Parents Can Monitor Kids Online (Without Being Intrusive)
Conclusion
Device and app settings can never replace good communication between parents and trusted adults. While these recommended settings can help students stay safer online, parents and educators can help students learn the dangers online and how to make good decisions and build positive digital habits.
Listen to Beth & Andrea discuss parental controls and the Family Media Agreement on MomTalk
Logged in and still not seeing content? This course may not be part of
your membership plan. Click here to join.
Become login to learn more on this topic
Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic
This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!
Sharon M.
Parent VIP Member
Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.
Director of College Advising
Educator Webinar Attendee
This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.
Irene C.
Educator Webinar Attendee
Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events
Learn About Our Live Events
Each of our monthly events feature real student voices, expert tips and practical advice that makes parents the most informed parent on the block
.jpg)
Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.
Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online
Our remote presentations (and website) teaches over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes
With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.
Listen on: