iPad for teenager - limiting screen time - Google family link

[Gambatte 972]

Thinking of buying iPad for our teenager, for art drawing mainly.
Never used Apple so far.
Want to limit screen time, too much is simply not healthy.

What's a good way to limit screen time on iPad?
Would Google family link still work? Like it works on Android?

Thanks,
Alberto

[tor 17,437]

I do not have kids nor do i know how to monitor screen time.

that said:

Instead of imposing electric fences, why not try instilling self discipline instead and trust?

You set an amount of x hours per day or week, and make regular spot checks, which i am sure you can do,

The teen will learn how to monitor and budget. An extra hour for good behavior, an hour less for bad behavior, or the iPad disappears for a few days.

just my 2cents.

[snowingagain 5,441]

Well it is tricky. If they want to go along with it it will work. Otherwise, they will find a workaround. Encouraging other stuff is your only chance. Obviously Tor's strategies are well intentioned but aimed a younger child. Like, buying a dog can change a child, and take them away from all this crap. But it does not work everywhere.

[snowingagain 5,441]

Well it is tricky. If they want to go along with it it will work. Otherwise, they will find a workaround. Encouraging other stuff is your only chance. Obviously Tor's strategies are well intentioned but aimed a younger child. Like, buying a dog can change a child, and take them away from all this crap. But it does not work everywhere.

[Krieg 15,074]

Just define strict rules and go ahead when they are broken. i.e. broken rules = taking the device for one week. Anyway, limiting screen time would be difficult because you will need to use the Apple ecosystem, so you would need another device. And the iPad does not allow multiple users, it will belong to one person. You still can configure screen time limits but as the owner of the device it will be easy to go around the limits, without a parental control the screen limit itself is just a tool for self control.

[snowingagain 5,441]

What age are we talking about here.

[toBnruG 1,156]

As Krieg says, you can only have one user account for an iPad. I think it might be possible to own a single iPad and configure it to have limitations though...
Setting limits is pretty straightforward and you can limit total time for any and all apps as well as times of the day when the device cannot be used. For this function you input a screentime passcode which is separate from the passcode used to unlock the device. I just checked that in order to reset the screentime passcode you have to use your Apple ID.

So I think you could (and a more experienced Apple user might correct me if I'm wrong) create an Apple ID for yourself and setup the iPad using this. Then setup the screentime limits and use a passcode that you do not share with your child. Then share with them the passcode of the device and it effectively belongs to them but they will be using your ID.

I would also rather limit the usage time without electronic controls, but I could imagine it leading to daily arguments and having to constantly track the time. I know people who use the screentime restrictions for their son and they see him precisely 1x every hour when he comes downstairs to get them to enter the passcode for a time extension. On the other hand, once they stop extending the time limit, the device is redundant and they have their son back for the rest of the day.

[scook17 292]

Limiting screen time I have no idea about as i don't have an ipad. Some android devices like Levono allow multiple users. Others allow a 'kids' mode, as do some apps. However, this is more like pin a single app, painting etc, for very yound kids.

However, you can limit online time, providing you do not have access to a device with a SIM card (ipad/iphone), i.e. buy a wifi only model.
The router often allows parental controlls which can setup a given MAC address of the ipad to a restricted time period.

So for example, it might be quite reasonable that the internet doesn't work past a certain time in the evening, so kids actually sleep, ready for school.
If the use is, however, games, this can be used offline where as most of the social media stuff requires a connection.

However, you also then need to configure only allowed MAC addresses are allowed to connect, which can be a bit of a PITA if you have a lot of wifi devices.
Otherwise the phone will randomize mac address (an option you can disable in the wifi settings when connecting).

More advanced routers can provide dedicated wifi names where the network applies restrictions to all devices, so you don't have the pain of configuring each device.

[fraufruit 42,493]

Things have really gotten complicated since my son was young. We just allowed him an hour on the internet after his chores and homework were done. Play Station was a separate entity but was also controlled and taken away as punishment. Every kid has their currency.

Do parents also limit their own time staring at square screens in order to spend more quality time with family? That includes phones. Unless, of course, they are working from home.

[catjones 1,702]

The OP hasn't responded to any comments. Maybe his ipad time is limited.

Not sure what he wants to limit...using the ipad for homework, social contacts, general skimming? So, al little of this is ok, but unlimited is too much? What is the concern/fear of unlimited use?

[Fietsrad 427]

Peter Sodann, German actor, had a similar problem when he was young. He spent too much time reading books 🤔