Mobile

Your child will probably spend more time on their mobile device than in any other method of interacting in the digital world. Most phones offer parental controls that empower you to manage and monitor your child's internet use.

ios (iphone, ipad, ipod)

The iOS operating system offers built-in parental controls that allow you to manage your child's online experience. To learn more, here's a video that shows how to get started.

For more information on parental controls on Apple mobile devices, be sure you visit their extensive resource page. There, you can learn how to customize your child's internet experience while using their device.

While at school, we strongly recommend you use Downtime to limit your child's phone use to only key apps (phone, messenger, educational applications.) Thanks to Jefferson City School's Chromebook initiative, students do not have to rely on their personal devices for instructional needs throughout the day.

android

Google has recently introduced a new family monitoring app for phones and Chromebooks called Family Link. This app is not included by default with your Android phone, but can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.

Google Family Link provides a wealth of information about browsing habits, as well as management of available content and even device tracking. Once the app is installed on your child's mobile device, you can remotely control and track usage.

If your child has an Android device, and you don't, you can even control Family Link from a non-Android device like an iPhone.

kindle fire

Recently, Kindle Fire has become a popular option for low-cost tablet for children. Amazon offers embedded parental controls on each Fire device. For more advanced features, you can use the Kindle Freetime App to customize your child's experience.