recommend parental apps for kids tablet

CraftySue

10 year old got a lenova yoga tablet for Christmas. Looking into parental control apps for internet browsing, youtube, app purchasing and in app purchasing restrictions. Seems like there is a lot out there, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

paddydriver

I have used one called Screen Time for last year - it is $2.99 a month for 5 devices but has been great for us. Its Android only and the parent control goes on your phone/tablet and the agent on their devices.

You can set daily, school time, bed time limits etc. You can limit apps they can use - so as example you might allow unlimited Kindle but limited Facebook. If they use the stock browser then it will show what sites they have been on, but not sure if same for Chrome.

You cannot control what they can do in the apps - i.e. what videos they watch on YouTube, but there are ways to do that using Google's own tools.

They cannot uninstall or disable without password. One thing to be aware of when reviewing these tools is that many get bad reviews usually cause its the kids slating them in the app store and giving low star ratings.

This is where Android really wins out in that an app like this can really embed and control it, you just cannot do anything like this on Apple unless you use the Restrictions settings but no easy way to really limit daily usage.

As regards limiting app purchases, just set them up with an account that doesn't have a credit card.

CraftySue

Thanks paddydriver, I have safemode set for both web browsing amd you tube, but I am wondering if this enough. I have the free screen time app dowloaded onto his tablet alright, and finding it quite good. I have seen tthe screen time remote app, is this the one you have paddydriver? He is getting to a more curious age, am just wondering oif there was a more secure way of ensuring safe you tube/ web browsing other than setting safe mode in settings

braddun

k9