How to Raise Digitally Smart & Safe Kids

Chapter 2 · Take Control

Parental Controls - What They Are & How to Set Them Up

CH2

Parental controls are your secret weapon. They're built right into every device and let you set boundaries for what your child can see, download, and how long they spend online - without hovering over their shoulder. This chapter shows you which tools work best, where to find them, and how to turn them on.

01

The Main Parental Control Tools

Screen Time

Apple · iPhone, iPad, Mac

Apple's built-in system for setting limits. You control how much time they spend in apps, what content they can see, who they can call or message, and when devices lock at bedtime - all protected by a passcode only you know.

Set daily limits per app category
Block or allow specific apps
Restrict content by age rating
Control who your child can contact
Lock device during bedtime (Downtime)
Require your approval for new downloads

Find it: Settings → Screen Time

Family Link

Google · Android, Chromebook

Google's parental control app for Android and Chromebooks. Manage everything from your own phone - approve or block app downloads, set daily screen time limits, see where they are, and lock the device remotely if needed.

Approve or block app downloads
Set daily screen time limits
Lock the device remotely
See your child's location on a map
Filter explicit content on Google Search
View weekly activity reports

Find it: family.google.com or Family Link app

Family Safety

Microsoft · Windows, Xbox

Microsoft's family controls for Windows PCs and Xbox. One dashboard gives you screen time limits, website blocking, game rating controls, spending limits, and location sharing - all in one place.

Web content filters on Edge browser
Screen time limits per device
Control Xbox game ratings
Spending limits on Microsoft Store
Location sharing via smartphone

Find it: account.microsoft.com/family

Router Controls

All devices · Home Wi-Fi network

Your router can filter the internet for your whole house. Block entire categories of websites and set bedtime across every device at once - including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and tablets. No app needed.

Block categories of websites network-wide
Set internet off-times by device
Works on ALL devices, not just phones
Services like Circle or Eero make this easier

Find it: Your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1)

Chapter 2 · Take Control

Parental Controls - What They Are & How to Set Them Up

CH2

02

Which Tool Does What?

Feature	Screen Time (iOS)	Family Link (Android)	Family Safety (Windows)	Router Controls
App limits & blocking	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Daily screen time limits	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial
Web content filtering	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bedtime / downtime lock	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Location tracking	Via Find My	Yes	Yes	No
Covers Smart TV / Console	No	No	Xbox only	Yes
Requires child Google account	No	Yes	Yes (Microsoft)	No

1

Create a Google account for your child

Go to accounts.google.com and create a new Google account. Pick "For my child," enter their birth date, and verify you're the parent with your own Google account.

2

Install Family Link on your phone

Download the Family Link app on your phone. Sign in with your Google account and link their account through the app.

Google Play / App Store › "Family Link"

3

Set up your child's device

Sign them into their Android device with their new Google account. Family Link automatically activates - you'll get a notification confirming the link is live.

4

Set daily screen time limits

In the Family Link app, find Screen Time. Set a daily limit - like 2 hours - and add a bedtime. When they hit the limit, the screen locks.

Family Link app › Child name › Screen Time

5

Manage app approvals

Go to Controls → Google Play Filters. Set the highest app rating allowed - say, 12+. Any app they try to download above that rating sends you a notification to approve.

Family Link › Controls › Filters on Google Play

6

Enable SafeSearch & content filters

Go to Controls → Google Search Filters and enable SafeSearch. Adult images and content get blocked from search results on the device.

Family Link › Controls › Filters on Google Search

Chapter 2 · Take Control

Parental Controls - What They Are & How to Set Them Up

CH2

1

Open Screen Time

Open Settings on their iPhone or iPad and find Screen Time. Turn it on if it isn't already running.

Settings › Screen Time › Turn On Screen Time

2

Select "This is My Child's iPhone"

Pick "This is My Child's iPhone" - this unlocks the parent controls and lets you set a secret passcode your child can't guess.

3

Set a Screen Time Passcode

Pick a 4-digit code that's different from the device passcode - this code locks in your settings so they can't change them or sneak extra time.

Screen Time › Use Screen Time Passcode

4

Set Downtime (bedtime lock)

Set the hours when the device locks - like 9 pm to 7 am. During downtime, only calls and the apps you approve will work. Everything else greys out.

Screen Time › Downtime

5

Set App Limits

Add limits to app categories like Social Media or Games. Set a daily max - say, 1 hour. When they hit it, those apps lock and show a message asking for more time.

Screen Time › App Limits › Add Limit

6

Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it on. From here you can block explicit content, restrict web browsing, set age ratings for apps, music and films, and prevent your child from changing key settings.

Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions

7

Set Communication Limits

Lock down who they can call or text - maybe just your contacts, or people you approve. You can also control who can reach them during sleep hours.

Screen Time › Communication Limits

Important - do not use your child's Apple ID

If their device is logged in with your Apple ID, Screen Time won't work. They need their own Apple ID through Family Sharing, and the device needs to be set as a child account. Check this before you start.

Chapter 2 · Take Control

Parental Controls - What They Are & How to Set Them Up

CH2

1

Create a Microsoft account for your child

Go to account.microsoft.com/family and log in. Click "Add family member," pick "Create account for a child," and enter their birth date.

2

Sign in on the child's PC with their account

Add their Microsoft email as a user on the PC. Important: they need to use this account to log in - a local account skips Family Safety completely.

Settings › Accounts › Family & other users › Add account

3

Set screen time & content filters

Open the Microsoft Family dashboard and pick their name. Set screen time, block websites by category, and control app or game ratings - all in one spot.

account.microsoft.com/family › Select child › Screen time / Content filters

4

For Xbox - link the console

Sign them into Xbox with their Microsoft account. Family Safety kicks in automatically. From the dashboard, limit spending, block older-rated games, and control who they can talk to.

Xbox Settings › Account › Sign in with child's Microsoft account

1

Log in to your router

Type 192.168.1.1 (or 192.168.0.1) into your browser. Log in with the admin password - it's usually on a sticker on the router itself.

2

Find Parental Controls

Find a section called "Parental Controls," "Access Control," or "Content Filtering" - the name depends on your router brand.

3

Block content categories or set schedules

Select their device and choose what types of sites to block, or set when the internet turns on and off.

Easier option: Circle or Eero

If your router's built-in controls are confusing, try Circle or Eero - both give you a simple app on your phone to manage bedtimes, content, and every device in the house (TVs, consoles, everything) from one place.

Chapter 2 · Take Control

Parental Controls - What They Are & How to Set Them Up

CH2

Age-Specific Guidance for This Chapter

5–8Apply all controls: Screen Time, Family Link, content filters, supervised use only. This chapter is essential for this age group.

9–12Controls should still be on but may need loosening selectively. Review together - explain why each setting exists.

13–15Transition from hard controls to agreed rules. Shared device management is more sustainable than surveillance at this age.

16–18Parental controls become largely ineffective. Relationship and agreed boundaries matter more than software.

04

Your Chapter 2 Checklist

I have turned on Screen Time or Family Link on my child's device
I have set a parental passcode my child does not know
I have set a daily screen time limit
I have set a bedtime / downtime lock

I have enabled content and web filters
I have restricted new app downloads to require my approval
I have checked my router for network-level controls
I am ready to move on to Chapter 3 - Healthy Habits & Screen Time