Apps/suggestions for setting time limits on apps for iPad/iPad?
January 21, 2015 9:30 AM Subscribe
The kids are getting too much screen time, and I am tired of chasing them down to surrender the iPad, setting passcodes, etc. Is there an app or setting that will permit iPad use *only* during specific recurring periods? Or is there an app that will let me specify which apps can be used during specific recurring periods?
Ideally, I'd like to have, let's say, educational apps A, B, and C able to run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fun apps D and E are OK between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Currently, I have no way to shut off access to D and E while keeping A, B, and C available. Or do I?
If I can't time limit individual apps, then is there an app or setting to limit access to iPad apps to a certain period each day? Parental controls on the old PC did this task efficiently and with minimal set-up time; is there an equivalent for the iPad?
Other stuff: Yes, I realize I can set a passcode. Yes, I realize that I can take it away. Yes, I would like to avoid arguments over doing this on a daily basis: I want to automate access, so that the iPad becomes my ally rather than a bone of contention with my kids. I don't care about Angry Birds when it's time to relax, but it makes me insane to have to keep after the kids for being on Angry Birds (or MLP on YT) when they should be doing math. Links appreciated; I'm not facile with the iPad or apps in general. I am looking for a technical solution. If such a thing does not exist, then I'm back to hide-the-iPad-butwhyyyyyywon'tyougivemethecodewhyyyyyy. But I'm hoping that you guys can help me avoid that. Thanks.
Ideally, I'd like to have, let's say, educational apps A, B, and C able to run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fun apps D and E are OK between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Currently, I have no way to shut off access to D and E while keeping A, B, and C available. Or do I?
If I can't time limit individual apps, then is there an app or setting to limit access to iPad apps to a certain period each day? Parental controls on the old PC did this task efficiently and with minimal set-up time; is there an equivalent for the iPad?
Other stuff: Yes, I realize I can set a passcode. Yes, I realize that I can take it away. Yes, I would like to avoid arguments over doing this on a daily basis: I want to automate access, so that the iPad becomes my ally rather than a bone of contention with my kids. I don't care about Angry Birds when it's time to relax, but it makes me insane to have to keep after the kids for being on Angry Birds (or MLP on YT) when they should be doing math. Links appreciated; I'm not facile with the iPad or apps in general. I am looking for a technical solution. If such a thing does not exist, then I'm back to hide-the-iPad-butwhyyyyyywon'tyougivemethecodewhyyyyyy. But I'm hoping that you guys can help me avoid that. Thanks.
I went looking for a similar (but not identical) tool recently and was not able to find it for the iPad. The explanation I found multiple places was that the iPad ecosystem specifically is meant so that apps cannot generally affect each other, so you can't have an app that controls when other apps can do their thing. Consensus seemed to be that the closets you could get would be the Guided Access settings, which you have to set up afresh each time you want to hand over the iPad, to prevent them from using other apps during that particular session.
Your needs aren't exactly the same so maybe you'll find something - if you do, please come back and tell us about it!
posted by Stacey at 10:09 AM on January 21, 2015
Your needs aren't exactly the same so maybe you'll find something - if you do, please come back and tell us about it!
posted by Stacey at 10:09 AM on January 21, 2015
First, I would put the games in a folder on your ipad (not sure if you use folders, but they are easy to create). Make one for educational content, another for the games.
Now hide the folder with the games. It doesn't automate the timing issue, but they can't break the rules unless you access it for them.
I would also think through how you are presenting the rules. So perhaps if they are asking, nagging outside the times when they are allowed to use, they lose the privileges for the day (assuming that they are old enough to know the time). Tell them rules in advance, of course.
posted by Wolfster at 10:14 AM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Now hide the folder with the games. It doesn't automate the timing issue, but they can't break the rules unless you access it for them.
I would also think through how you are presenting the rules. So perhaps if they are asking, nagging outside the times when they are allowed to use, they lose the privileges for the day (assuming that they are old enough to know the time). Tell them rules in advance, of course.
posted by Wolfster at 10:14 AM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
There is a feature called "Guided Access" that may work for you.
On preview, what Stacey said.
posted by melissasaurus at 10:25 AM on January 21, 2015
On preview, what Stacey said.
posted by melissasaurus at 10:25 AM on January 21, 2015
Doing a little research there is this app called TimeLock as well as this app called Kaboom but as noted due to 'sandboxing' each individual app there are workarounds by sophisticated (and determined) kids.
(From the feedback, TimeLock can be reset by setting the iPad's clock backwards, and Kaboom could be reset by a determined kid getting into the Settings and resetting notifications to 'off'.)
In my household we run age-appropriate times for the different kids on the basis of them doing what needs to be done - the 12yo has to have homework and music practice done before she gets her daily 'ration' of 30 minutes, the 7 and 5yo's have to do certain number of enrichment exercises / chores before a given 20 min of screentime. These rules have helped us rather than something on the device.
Strange though that Apple would have some very nice parental controls (including time controls) in their latest OSX for their desktops/laptops, but nothing for limiting time as you wanted.
posted by scooterdog at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2015
(From the feedback, TimeLock can be reset by setting the iPad's clock backwards, and Kaboom could be reset by a determined kid getting into the Settings and resetting notifications to 'off'.)
In my household we run age-appropriate times for the different kids on the basis of them doing what needs to be done - the 12yo has to have homework and music practice done before she gets her daily 'ration' of 30 minutes, the 7 and 5yo's have to do certain number of enrichment exercises / chores before a given 20 min of screentime. These rules have helped us rather than something on the device.
Strange though that Apple would have some very nice parental controls (including time controls) in their latest OSX for their desktops/laptops, but nothing for limiting time as you wanted.
posted by scooterdog at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2015
It sounds like there may not be a great app to do this, so I wonder if a better approach would be to just make screentime from 6-8pm, period. Even if there are educational apps they could be playing around with for the 3 previous hours, 5 hours of screen time (of whatever sort) still feels like a lot to me for young kids...it would be equally or more educational to be reading a book, engaging in imaginative play, playing games, etc. etc. etc. YMMV, but it might be easier to implement an "during these hours, the iPad is yours to do with what you want, otherwise it's off limits" rather than trying to judge which apps are okay at different times, etc.
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015
Not an Ipad, but here's a vote for the Kindle Fire for kids, since you can set individualized time limits by app category, as long as you are willing to stay with the Amazon app store ecosystem. It will also automatically lock before a bedtime that you set. I would probably wait until the second gen of this product is announced later this year though.
Laptop Mag review
You can also set unique restrictions for each profile. By default, a child's profile doesn't have access to the Silk browser, email, contacts, social apps or the camera. You can password-protect purchases (including in-app purchases), Wi-Fi access, location-based services and video playback.
We like that you can set time limits for specific types of content and even set educational goals to, for example, read for 30 minutes before being allowed to play a game. The tablet is smart enough to designate existing content, such as books and apps, as kid-friendly. The bedtime setting, which locks the tablet at a set time of day, will be extremely useful for parents of the "5-more-minutes" set.
posted by longdaysjourney at 10:56 AM on January 21, 2015
Laptop Mag review
You can also set unique restrictions for each profile. By default, a child's profile doesn't have access to the Silk browser, email, contacts, social apps or the camera. You can password-protect purchases (including in-app purchases), Wi-Fi access, location-based services and video playback.
We like that you can set time limits for specific types of content and even set educational goals to, for example, read for 30 minutes before being allowed to play a game. The tablet is smart enough to designate existing content, such as books and apps, as kid-friendly. The bedtime setting, which locks the tablet at a set time of day, will be extremely useful for parents of the "5-more-minutes" set.
posted by longdaysjourney at 10:56 AM on January 21, 2015
i'm pretty sure this still works. i remember finding it before when someone asked me this exact question. paired with incarcerapp you can completely restrict what can be run, and when.
you have to jailbreak to do something like this, but that's not a big deal. you basically plug the ipad in, run an app on your pc, and you're done. then you go in cydia and install those two tweaks.
posted by emptythought at 4:38 PM on January 21, 2015
you have to jailbreak to do something like this, but that's not a big deal. you basically plug the ipad in, run an app on your pc, and you're done. then you go in cydia and install those two tweaks.
posted by emptythought at 4:38 PM on January 21, 2015
While looking for a new wireless router I found this:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3836205&CatId=373
Haven't ordered it yet but it seems like the only way to prevent someone from accessing the internet is to control it at the entry point. Kids are way to savvy and this seems like it might be the most seamless way to handle it.
I look forward to an update!
posted by ashtray elvis at 5:06 AM on January 22, 2015
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3836205&CatId=373
Haven't ordered it yet but it seems like the only way to prevent someone from accessing the internet is to control it at the entry point. Kids are way to savvy and this seems like it might be the most seamless way to handle it.
I look forward to an update!
posted by ashtray elvis at 5:06 AM on January 22, 2015
iPads and other iOS devices are personal devices. If it's in your hands and you have the passcode, you're in full control of it by design.
I work as a school IT technician, and this is the same advice I made sure my principal understood before formulating school policy on the use of Apple's shiny new toys in the classroom. Failure to understand it has proved very expensive elsewhere.
butwhyyyyyywon'tyougivemethecodewhyyyyyy
"Because I'm your parent, which makes it my job to act in your best interests, and too much screen time is bad for your health." Use the exact same wording and the exact same neutral tone every. single. time; do not engage in any form of argument. If argument is attempted, simply say the exact same thing again. This is the "broken record" method, and it will save your sanity.
posted by flabdablet at 11:45 AM on January 22, 2015
Classthink on Meraki Systems Manager: Due to the way iOS is designed, no matter how tightly you lock down the operating system, the end user can always simply enter the settings menu and remove all security policies and applications even if the policy has been password protected. This is simply a limitation of the operating system and something Apple needs to seriously address.Brute physical removal aside, there is no guaranteed-effective technical solution to the genuine responsible-adult problem of limiting children's access to these devices.
I work as a school IT technician, and this is the same advice I made sure my principal understood before formulating school policy on the use of Apple's shiny new toys in the classroom. Failure to understand it has proved very expensive elsewhere.
butwhyyyyyywon'tyougivemethecodewhyyyyyy
"Because I'm your parent, which makes it my job to act in your best interests, and too much screen time is bad for your health." Use the exact same wording and the exact same neutral tone every. single. time; do not engage in any form of argument. If argument is attempted, simply say the exact same thing again. This is the "broken record" method, and it will save your sanity.
posted by flabdablet at 11:45 AM on January 22, 2015
Response by poster: To reiterate: I am looking for a technical solution rather than parenting advice, and, not being well versed in iWorld, am wondering whether there is an easily-implemented one-off fix. If such a thing does not exist -- and it sounds that way -- then that is useful information too.
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:54 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:54 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Unfortunately, the stock setup on the iPad is also terrible, just in different ways. You have to turn individual apps on and off, there is no grand switch to disable a batch of them. Also, there are no individual user profiles on the iPad, so you can't switch between profiles to get a different set of apps. It seems like this is a trivial technical problem, but I don't know the answer.
posted by wnissen at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2015