Parents are getting guidance on how to establish healthy digital habits for their children and their iPhones and iPads, thanks to a partnership between Apple and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Back during the WWDC keynote in June, Apple said it will release expanded parental controls in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), covering things from content blocking to encouraging healthier browsing habits. Three months later, and more guidance is being provided to parents.
The new guide, a partnership between AAP and Apple, is called “Building Healthy Digital Habits: A Guide for Families.” It is an online guide that aims to help parents talk to their children about their electronic device use, and how Apple’s devices could be used to bring the guidance into practice.
The guide defines a six-step process, starting with talking to children about screen time, making the children feel included in the conversation. After that, the steps go through setting up a Child Account under Family Sharing, setting up safety settings for websites and apps, scheduling device use, and managing the child’s contacts.
The last step is designed to be an ongoing one, namely to “keep the conversation growing as your child grows.” As a child’s needs evolve, so should any account restrictions.
Part of this information is AAP’s screen time guidance by age group, covering infants through to teens.
Apple VP of Health and Fitness, Sumbul Desai, M.D. explains that the AAP guidance and Apple’s tools are “designed to adapt to each family and each child’s stage of development, giving parents a useful starting point to decide what works best.”
The hope is that the guide facilitates discussions and provides resources that are needed to put the guidance into practic3e.
“we know that navigating screens and social media is something every parent wants to get right,”said AAP CEO Mark Del Monte. “This partnership will further support families with those efforts.”