Since I posted How to Child-proof iPAD, I received so many questions asking how to lock the iPAD screen, so kids stay within the app you want them to play. Now we found the solution – Daisy Simpson, our new reviewer at iGameMom is going to share the trick with you.
Daisy is a proud mom to an active toddler and works part-time in a hospital where she utilizes technology in her work with helping kids cope in the medical setting. Her family loves being outdoors experiencing all Minnesota has to offer. Now let’s read Daisy’s tip on how to lock the iPAD screen.
I am so happy to have discovered the new Guided Access feature on my iPhone/iPad. Has your child been in the middle of a game, only to touch the home button then get back to the home screen and suddenly all your apps are bouncing and ready to be deleted? My son loves to press the home button, over and over and over. Although he loves it, I’m not a fan because then my apps are in jeopardy of getting re-arranged or deleted, not good for my type A organized phone. Or has your child accidently touched that annoying ad in the corner of the game, prompting another window to open up interrupting their game? Guided access is a great fix for that and can be accessed through the general settings.
1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPAD:
2. Go to General, then choose Accessibility (click on image to have a larger view of the picture):
3. In Accessibility, find the selection box under Learning titled Guided Access; you will want to turn this ON.
4. You will need to set a passcode. (Now if you have older kids this might not be the solution you are looking for, but also with older kids they are probably not constantly clicking the home button. No matter the age it is nice to block off those annoying ads)
5. Once that is on go back to the Accessibility screen by tapping Accessibility at the top-left corner of the screen. Make sure Guided Access is selected for Triple-click the home Button.
6. Now that guided access is enabled. Open up any app you want your child to play with. Triple click the home button and a new screen pops up that allows you to adjust the guided access for that specific app:
At the bottom of the screen, you have the option to turn hardware buttons off, turn touch on or off (I leave this on as the game needs to be able to touch around within the app) and motion on or off (I also leave this on). While in guided access, if you circle any area a grayed out box will appear, as shown in the picture above (see the little box with a small “x” on top-left corner). This area will now become unclickable when guided access is turned on. This is a great tool to use over those annoy ads or maybe the play/pause buttons of a movie app. If you want to change this grey coverage, there is a little ‘x’ you can click to delete that selection and make a new selection. Once all your settings are the way you want them, select the blue Start button at the top-right corner and the app will resume as normal.
7. When your child is finished playing with that app, you triple click your home button, but this time since guided access is turned on you have to put in your passcode. Once you type in your passcode you can select End if you are finished, or make changes and select resume to continue with the guided access on. After you hit end you are able to click the home button and return to your home screen.
I hope you can get as much use out of this feature as I have!
What a helpful tip for all the parents! If you find this helpful, I am sure you want to check out how to quickly Child-proof iPAD.
Here are some more iPAD child-safety articles. Make sure check these articles too:
How to choose baby friendly iPAD cases
How to choose kids friendly iPAD cases
How to minimize surprising iTune bills
How to set up an iTune account without a credit card (as a way to manage iTune spending)
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for your post! I am a kindergarten teacher and would like to lock my students in a folder. Is there a way to keep them in a folder so that they can only play certain games?
Thanks again!
I am not aware of a feature like that for iPAD. Windows phone has that feature. For iPAD, one solution (I know it is not ideal) is to put their apps on one page, and tell them that page is the only page they can be on. I will keep my eyes open, and if I found anything, I will share.
What if your iPod doesn’t have the guited acces?
it is a great questions. For younger kids, I suggest getting a case cover the home button. If they can’t press the home button, they won’t be able to get out of the app. For school age kids, if you follow the steps on How to Child Proof iPAD, and talk to them about not moving apps, and not spending real money, they should be able to understand.
What if u have a little kid that’s really smart?
If the kid is smart enough to get out of this, parents / care givers should find ways to help him/her understand why and how not to move and delete apps, etc. Good luck!
This is awesome. And it works. Exactly what I was looking for.
Great. It is a great feeling know our tips helped other parents.
Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I however can not use this trick on my iPad. I have the most recent software but I’m wondering if because I have the original iPad that this feature is not on here.
Total bummer too as this is my biggest issue with the iPad the inability to lock kids out of certain apps and grant access to others.
If you have the original iPAD, more than likely you are not on iOS6. iOS5 is the latest the original iPAD can get. I think this feature works on iOS6.
I think your information helps parents to keep their children off guard from iPad and iPhone addiction.
That is another positive effect I did not think about. We should all thank Daisy for writing a clear guide!
Thank you so much for the tutorial. I have wanted to know how to do this for awhile.
I will be sharing this with friends for sure.
Thanks for continuing to post such helpful and interesting information! As a mom and a member of the ed tech community, I find a lot to enjoy here. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Emily. It is a pleasure to see someone from the edtech community.
{ 3 trackbacks }