5 tips for making your iPhone/iTouch kid proof

by Berna

I got my son his own iTouch after I fell in love with my iPhone. Unfortunately my son has my clumsiness genes. Below I share some tips for parents on how to make  iPhone/iTouch kid proof and kid friendly: 

1.  Get a case with a stand: While this was a no brainer, it took me 2-3 hours to find a silicon-non  slippery case with a stand. It is relatively in-expensive at $11.89 for a two pack, clear and pink. The pink one was pretty ugly, but the clear colored one did the job. Also this was an iPhone case and it fit little loosely to my son's iTouch. Nevertheless it worked for us.
   
   
   
2. Get a few retractable chargers: The long dangling charger that comes with the iPhone was just too attractive for my son to pull and play around. Plus, when he is playing with the iTouch he drains the battery fast, so I got several of these retractable chargers and plugged them into every computer we have. They were very inexpensive at $1.92 each and shipping cost more than the product. Therefore, you may want to order several at once.
   
   
3. Never give the ownership: Even if you get them their own device -like I did-, and even if you had their name engraved at the back of the iTouch -like I did-, do not tell them that its theirs. Tell them that its the whole family's to share. That way they are not obsessed about it and you may be able to get it back from them when you need to.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Have them use it only sitting down: Only after two days of iTouch ownership, my son got really comfortable with the device, just holding it with one hand, using it while walking etc. I do not want him to break it so I made a rule of him using it only when he is sitting down.
   
   
5. Avoid applications with heavy motion controls: This way they do not get used to throwing around and shaking their iTouch and you can avoid having it slip out of their little hands.
   
   
   
   

    

   
   

   Access all blogs about iPhone kids games and apps, tips for parents

   Do you think these techniques would work and I will manage to keep his iTouch intact? Do you have additional tips? I'd like to hear your thoughts!

Comments

[Liz@VioletPosy]

Great tips!

[IanG]

Any way to prevent the wiggle mode (move icons/delete)?

[erin b]

> Any way to prevent the wiggle mode (move icons/delete)?

unfortunately no.
however, my experience is that even very young kids learn easily to press the 'home button' to escape if they go into this mode by mistake.

[Jay]

My two year old likes to put my ipod touch into wiggle mode and has deleted several applications. Luckily not ones I had data stored on like a notebook application but I can easily see that happening as there is no way to restrict this! Apple needs to add application deletion to the restriction settings! Can you imagine taking notes at a meeting and then going out to dinner with the family and having your kid erase everything before it gets saved to a computer! How hard would it be to need a pass code for deletion? The do you want to delete dialog box is not effective as one extra button press and the app is gone. Presto!

[Darren]

Jailbreaking is both easy, and allows you to exert a lot of control that makes life easier for little ones. For example, hiding applications like iTunes, AppStore, Contacts, and Stocks becomes possible - making it easier for kids to find the fun they're looking for.

@Jay:
"Can you imagine taking notes at a meeting and then going out to dinner with the family and having your kid erase everything before it gets saved to a computer!"

Yeah, I wouldn't give a kid a device that had important or sensitive information on it in the first place. Get your own Touch.

[Kelly]

Thank you for your blog. My daughter arrived home from her father's home this weekend with an iTouch in hand. I did not freak out, but did some research and now feel confident she is safe, as safe as can be I guess, and knows there are limits. Her dad is disappointed I put parental controls on, but I don't care. This is about a beautiful young girls mental and physical health and safety. Thank you, Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[scott cochran]

What we really need is a "sandbox" app. It would work like this. The parent opens the app, give his/her son the phone and it locks him out of anything you don't want him to see, change etc. (Just some kids games and movies) to get out of the App one needs to dial a quick password. I think such a thing would be a must for any shared device, since my sons like changing setting etc. more than anything else.

Scott

[Rob]

My 20-month-old son as well as my friend's small children all love to press the Home Button when we let our kids play games on our iPhones. I have come up with physical solution to help prevent kids from pressing that button (on iPhones, iPads, etc.). I'm trying to do some market research and testing. If you have young kids and would like to receive a free home button blocker (in exchange for giving me feedback), please email me (you can find the email address by clicking my user name).

[Mobile Phone TV]

Good tips! I find that kids today can't get enought of the iphone. The apps are just so user friendly that even my neighbor's 4 year old kid is playing with it lol.

[teja]

I am very addictive to games especially computer games, but while travelling we can’t carry the

laptop though we carry the laptop it won’t be comfort playing games and was thinking of Mobile

games and luckily found your website, really I am very very Happy and Thanks a ton for making

this Mobile apps.

[Sam]

Thank you for the retractable cords!

I have jailbroken all our devices and installed Lockdown Pro. It has an amazing range of options including individual app security with a PIN/password as well as settings to prevent app deletion and movement. (lets them wiggle but nothing else) If you couple this with an icon hider like Poof! then you are set. I only make the apps I want them to use both visible and accessible. Then even if they get an app to start (via searchlight) it will ask for the PIN/password. Works like a charm!

Jailbreaking also allows you customization of things that effect battery drain, which will keep them playing even longer.

What I need for my autistic 4 year old, is a case/dock cable all-in-one combo that keeps the device connected to power preventing disconnection from either the phone or the usb/wall charger. Anyone seen anything like that?

[Tamper Proof Tape]

Wow you guys are brave, your kids must be a lot less wild than mine! if I gave my 4 year old one of these she'd probably throw it out of the window to see if she could race down the stairs and out to catch it before it lands! Good luck to the lot of you child-proofing them!

[ipad tips]

I think what would be best is to have an app which goes like the window's parental control. Daugther/son can only use the program parents want them to use.

[One ring Atlanta]

It's great! I love it.

[Fion]

Haha, nice one! Im gonna give it when next month when i buy iphone 5