iPad Rules: Basics of Restrictions and Rewards

image via:  http://www.movies-on-ipads.com/tag/download-youtube-to-ipad-2/ 

It has come to my attention that some parents are having trouble with iPad access and rules. You can keep control of it with a little tech knowledge.
On the iPad there is a Settings icon, touch that and go there.

image via:  http://www.vpnfortress.com/setup/ipad-vpn-set-up.html 

Under General there is the heading Restrictions

image via:  http://appletoolbox.com/2011/12/how-to-setup-parental-controls-on-an-ipad/ 

Touch it and Set Passcode, if you haven't already.

image via:  http://appletoolbox.com/2011/12/how-to-setup-parental-controls-on-an-ipad/  

After you have set the pass code go into Restrictions, enter the code and turn off all functions you don't want your child to have.
We turn off Safari (the Internet), YouTube, Downloading Apps, Deleting Apps and In-App Purchases.
Once you have set those, and exited settings, you can give it to your child and feel pretty safe they are not going to see anything untoward or run up your iTunes bill.

image via:  http://ipod.about.com/od/ipadhowtos/ss/buying-at-ibooks-store_4.htm 

Your iTunes also has a password, make sure to keep BOTH the iTunes password and the Restrictions codes secret from your children. I haven't had to change the iTunes code yet. If they happen to crack your code on the iPad, you will have to go in and change it. You can do that by going back into Restrictions and hitting Disable Restrictions. Then hit the same bar again, only this time it will say Enable Restrictions, put in the new Passcode, go back and turn off the options you don't want.

image via:  http://www.worldstart.com/ipad-restrictions/

We have had to change the restrictions codes on both their iPads since they cracked the codes. I now make them leave the room when I am entering codes, so they can't see me entering them. I have also had to make the Restrictions Passcode an obscure one, rather than one of the ones we commonly use for other things, like Netflix or Lego.com or individual user passwords.

image via:  http://www.sott.net/articles/show/244744-Parents-Sue-Apple-Over-Children-s-Costly-and-Highly-Addictive-Apps

We also have some rules around iPad use. They are only allowed to use it when they have earned it with good behavior. With Sensi it is a potty prize of sorts. She has to go number two at least once every 24-36 hours or she loses her iPad privileges. If she has no reward, she will just hold it for days. She also will get involved in the iPad or Netflix and forget to go when she needs to. iPad use as a reward is motivating for her to even try to go. This works for us.
Random Guy can use his after he has finished his homework and has had appropriate behavior. He is now ten and getting very sassy. The possibility of not getting to use his iPad has kept some of that behavior in check.
 Also there are no iPads an hour before sleep time. They can use it to wind down in the evening, but I take it from them an hour before sleep time. There is some evidence that iPad use interferes with sleep.

image via:  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/04/parents-sue-apple-for-in-app-and-in-game-purchases-made-by-kids/

We take iPads and recharge them in our bedroom at night, so we know where the iPads are and can shut down any programs running in the background.
Apps and in-app purchases are also doled out for good behavior. If Sensi wants a book off her MeeGenius app or Random Guy from his Doctor Who comics platform they have to ask for it and good behavior has to have been followed for that day. Random Guy is also working toward a Minecraft app by getting ready for school in the morning without delay or complaining. We are on week three of trying to earn this app.
Be careful about what apps you load on your child's device. Since you are in control of the app purchases, even free ones, (since you have the iTunes code,) don't let them have any old app they choose. Look at what others have said about the apps you are about to purchase. CommonSenseMedia.org is a good site, there are many others that rate and review apps.

image via:  http://uk.androlib.com/android.screenshot.app.tBiDF-AiqDE.u.aspx 

If there is an app that causes a problem, (like Talking Ben,) you can delete it. It will stay in your iTunes library if you ever want it back, but it doesn't have to stay on your kid's iPad if it is causing trouble.
So there you have the Savvy Advocate Mom iPad basic rules and regulations. Happy e-play.

Sources:
appletoolbox.com/how-to-setup-parental-controls-on-an-ipad
http://www.worldstart.com/ipad-restrictions/
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/newsroom/pr_story.asp?id=235

The Tide Is Out: Summertime

I have both kids home being home schooled instead of summer school. I am having some trouble getting the routine established with SensiGirl as she is not being cooperative about school type activities. She has also taken up these irritating vocalizations she picked up from somewhere. It is a high pitched fake baby crying/cooing sound, "Whahahaha, whahahaha, woohoohoo, oow, ooooh, ooh.

image via:  http://www.parents.com/web/parents/flash/milestones/loader.swf 

I usually can ignore these kinds of things because I know if I ignore it that it will eventually go away. The baby sounds bother me because it is as if she wants to act like a baby again, after all the progress we made this year. It makes me irritated and want to cry all at the same time.

image via:  http://www.sitecheat.com/unlock-ipad-passcode/ 

Random Guy has been using SensiGirl's iPad to surf the net in his room upstairs. I haven't liked this situation, but I had to deal with it last night after turning on Safari and finding a weird fetish site cued up.  My husband and I erased the history so it wouldn't be easy to return there, but Random Guy knows how to use Google.  I am pretty sure at his age; he made a mistake typing in the address of one of his Lego brick sites and got the weirdo site. It was bothering me, enough that I couldn't sleep last night, so I changed the pass code for the restrictions so he couldn't use the internet without me knowing. I told Random Guy not to take the iPad this morning since I changed the code. I didn't want him trying passwords and locking it up. That is exactly what happened this morning. I had forgotten that I added using the pass code to just open up the iPad not only for changing restrictions. I am still waiting to use the new pass code to open up the iPad.

image via:  http://yogacalm.org/store.asp

When Random Guy then refused to go to his new yoga class, I lost my patience. I turned into that crabby yelling mom I hate. I give myself props for explaining why I am mad and for coming up with appropriate consequences for not going and decent rewards for going and being able to follow through.
I then took Random Guy to yoga. He wanted me to stay for the whole class and I had SensiGirl with me. Ms. Katie asked if Sensi and I would like to stay, we did, Ms. Katie and the other girls in class were great. Random Guy gave his class 7 out of 10 and said he would go again if his sister didn't have to come. I can totally understand him wanting something for his own. I am glad that Ms. Katie gets both Random Guy and SensiGirl.

photo by Tom Oliver
image via:  http://www.flickriver.com/places/India/Kerala/Kanjikkuzhi/ 

I still am feeling like a crab though, I gave up today and the kids are watching PBSkids and I am writing my blog rather than having a school session as planned. I gave up that idea as soon as we got home and the lunch I bought them as the reward wasn't eaten. Rather than harp about it I made grilled cheese for us. I am so tired that I left the pan on the lit burner for the whole time we were were eating out sandwiches. I have said before that if I don't get enough sleep the tide is out for me and I can only see the crap that surrounds me. I warned the kids this afternoon that I was going to be off the clock and not helping anyone with anything after nine o'clock. Smart kids...they agreed.

Tranquil Thursday: iBonsai

iBonsai

image via: http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/037/Purple/61/6f/45/mzl.ywwaiojm.320x480-75.jpg

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibonsai/id300829218?mt=8

Mom's iPad Info Meeting: Part 2

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This is part two of the discussion I had with SensiGirl's teacher and some other moms of the children in her class.  We had a discussion about apps that we found helpful for our kids. Things we liked and things that we would like to see, as well as some apps that had to go to the delete pile.

image via: http://www.afrugalfriend.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/alex-toys-moody-monsters-manor-app.png

Emotion and Feeling apps:

Electric Company: Feel Electric
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/feel-electric!
 Moody Monster Manor
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moody-monster-manor
iTouchLearn Feelings
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itouchilearn-feelings-for

image via: http://bestappsforkids.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/et
temp/moozart-music-app-icon-12059_182x131.gif

Music apps:

My First Songs
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-first-songs-music-game
Moozart
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moozart

image via: http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/060/Purple
/c0/be/e5/mzl.mupyqdnr.480x480-75.jpg

Story book apps:

MeeGenius books, this library platform is free, the books cost  99 cents to $ 2.99
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meegenius!-kids-books

Ibooks: One of the moms liked this app. The reviews since the last update aren't so good. Hopefully the bugs have been worked out.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks

Our local library has a device resource center to download books for free, I haven't tried it yet:
http://www.rclreads.org/books/downloads
http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/Default.aspx?type=ebook

My stories ,create your own social story or story book
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-stories

image via: http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/061/Purple/f3/10/e3/mzl.knaapbxj.png

Telling Time apps:

Interactive Telling Time
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/interactive-telling-time-learning/id477389150?ls=1&mt=8

Telling Time Free
http://itunes.apple.com/app/telling-time-free/id473879314?ign-mpt=uo%3D6&mt=8

Monkey Time
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monkey-time/id360735712?mt=8

Visual Timer, it costs less than the Time Timer app
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/visualtimer/id301558975?mt=8

image via: http://www.redfish4kids.com/imgs/screenshot_frontpage.jpg

Other favorites:

Red Fish/ Poisson Rouge:
moderately expensive app, $9.99, test it for free online, press play to try it ( middle left above the red fish.)
http://www.poissonrouge.com/

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/redfish-4-kids/id364898590?mt=8

Puppet Pals, (Director's Pass 2.99)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/puppet-pals-hd/id342076546?mt=8

My Play Home - Dollhouse app
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-playhome/id439628153?mt=8


An app I could live without is the emotions app, Autism Xpress, that only has 12 emotions and uses a kind of emoticon animation with sound. It wasn't very helpful and it turned into a noise maker rather that a learning app.
Twinkle twinkle storybook piano wasn't very helpful either since it only teaches one tune. If your child is not interested in that tune, there won't be much music learning going on.

Again, a special thanks to SensiGirl's teacher and Ms. Liz and Ms. Marjorie for all the great info.