The average age for children to start using a tablet varies depending on factors such as the child’s cognitive development, maturity level, and parental discretion.
Recommendations
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it is recommended that:
18 months below should not use a tablet except for video chatting.
18 months to 2 years should be limited to high-quality educational programming and used with adult supervision.
2 to 5 years should be limited to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming and again used with adult supervision.
Talking openly and frequently with your child about internet safety and appropriate technology use is also essential. Establish rules and restrictions for screen time use and inform them of the potential dangers of utilizing the internet and social media.
61% of parents with children aged 11 years or younger reported that their child uses a tablet computer at least occasionally.
Here are some steps you can follow to set parental controls on a tablet:
Set up a passcode To prevent your child from accessing the tablet without your permission.
Enable parental control features Tablets come with parental control features that allow you to restrict access to certain apps, games, or websites, set time limits, and create user profiles with different settings.
Create a separate user profile Create a separate user profile for your child that has limited access to certain apps or features. This can be done under “User Accounts” in the settings menu.
Restrict access to content You can restrict access to certain types of content such as mature or violent content, or block certain websites.
Set time limits Set time limits for how long your child can use the tablet per day or per week.
Use parental control apps Consider downloading parental control apps that provide additional features and functionalities such as monitoring your child’s online activities, blocking inappropriate content.
Educate your child Have open and ongoing conversations with your child about online safety and responsible technology use.
