How to set up Parental Controls

Captain Ratatype · 13 Feb 26 · 4 min read · 12203 views

"Just five more minutes, pleeeease" — sound familiar? Screen time — two words that make every mom and dad feel uneasy. Gadgets, videos, Roblox, other video games, social media, mindless scrolling — all of these worries modern parents who want to reduce the impact of screens on their children's mental and physical health.

So, a fair question arises: "How do I set up parental controls on my child's phone?"

How to set up Parental Controls on iPhone

There are several ways to enable parental controls on Apple devices.

First method — through "Screen Time"

Step 1. Where to start

Open "Settings" on the child's iPhone
Scroll to "Screen Time"
Tap "Turn On Screen Time"
Select "This is My Child's iPhone"

Step 2. Managing restrictions

Set up restrictions — "Downtime".
Set the hours when phone use will be restricted (for example, during sleep).

Leave selected apps allowed — Phone, Messages, etc. It's important that your child always can contact you, so it's better not to block the phone completely.

Properly configure app limits

Limit the usage time of selected app categories — games, social media.
If needed, set a daily limit (for example, 1 hour for games).

Additional tips

You can set communication limits — restrict calls or FaceTime.
You can also block inappropriate content.
Pay attention to App Store purchase restrictions.

Step 3. Set a passcode

Create a Screen Time passcode. ⚠️ Important: the child should not know this code. Otherwise, parental controls will lose all-purpose.

Add your Apple ID for passcode recovery.

Second method — through "Family Sharing"

For better control, create a child account through Family Sharing:

Settings → [Your Name] → "Family Sharing"
Tap "Add Member" → Create an Account for a Child
Enter the child's information (name, date of birth)
Set up "Ask to Buy" — the child must request permission for purchases

"Family Sharing" also has other benefits, for example:

Management from your iPhone
Automatic purchase approval
Shared access to purchased content
Location tracking through Find My

What to do if you forgot the Screen Time passcode

Go to "Settings" → "Screen Time"
Change Screen Time Passcode → Forgot Passcode?
Enter the Apple ID and password you used during setup
Create a new passcode

How to set up Parental Controls on Android

For parental controls on Android, there are special apps and third-party services, but the most effective method is controlling your child's screen time through Google Family Link.

Setting up Parental Controls through Google Family Link

You will need your phone, the child's phone, and a Google account for the child. Please note: full device control is only possible for children under 13.

Step 1. Installing apps

Download Google Family Link for parents on your phone.
Open the app and tap "Get Started".
Select "Yes".
Download Google Family Link for children on the child's phone.

Step 2. Setup on the child's phone

Create or connect the child's Google account. Enter the date of birth, child's Gmail address, and password.
Connect the accounts. On the child's phone, enter the code shown on your phone or scan the QR code.
Grant permissions. Family Link will request device management access. Tap "Allow" on all prompts.
Choose settings: allowed apps, content filters, usage time restrictions.

If the child is 13+ years old:

They can opt out of supervision (but will receive a notification).
You can set up supervision mode instead of full control. It will allow you to see the child's activity and set basic content filters.

What happens if a Family Link is deleted?

The phone will automatically lock.
You will receive a notification.
You will need to set up Family Link again.

Respect for the child should come first

Parental controls are a tool to help parents protect their child from the negative effects of screens and gadgets. But they will only work together with other parenting methods.

Before setting up controls, discuss it with your child. Explain why and for what reason you are doing this.
Spend time with your child — ask about their day, involve them in household chores, offer alternatives to screen time.
Talk to your child about internet safety. Explain which sites are considered dangerous and why.
Regularly check actual screen time to understand how much time your child really spends in front of a screen.

Even better — try to occasionally immerse yourself in your children's world. Play the games they play with their peers to understand what your daughters and sons are interested in.

We recommend games that entertain and educate. For example, the keyboard games Rarace and Ratashooter.

Play the games