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Parents, Start Here!

Introducing Tech Slowly

Giving a New Device

Giving a First Phone

Setting Screen Limits

Managing a School iPad

Adding Apps & Games

Talking About Tech

Modeling Good Habits

Engaging Friends & Caregivers

Using Parental Controls

School Leaders, Start Here!

Phone-Free Schools

Guiding Parents' Tech Boundaries

Teaching Students Digital Wellbeing

More Play, More Unplugged

Parent Ed Events

Simple Phones & Watches

Schools & Ambassadors

Family Guidelines

More IRL, Less URL

Explore Marin & Beyond

About ScreenSense

Parents, Start Here!

Introducing Tech Slowly

Giving a New Device

Giving a First Phone

Setting Screen Limits

Managing a School iPad

Adding Apps & Games

Talking About Tech

Modeling Good Habits

Engaging Friends & Caregivers

Using Parental Controls

School Leaders, Start Here!

Phone-Free Schools

Guiding Parents' Tech Boundaries

Teaching Students Digital Wellbeing

More Play, More Unplugged

Parent Ed Events

Simple Phones & Watches

Schools & Ambassadors

Family Guidelines

More IRL, Less URL

Explore Marin & Beyond

About ScreenSense

Folder: For Parents

Parents, Start Here!

Introducing Tech Slowly

Giving a New Device

Giving a First Phone

Setting Screen Limits

Managing a School iPad

Adding Apps & Games

Talking About Tech

Modeling Good Habits

Engaging Friends & Caregivers

Using Parental Controls

Folder: For Schools

School Leaders, Start Here!

Phone-Free Schools

Guiding Parents' Tech Boundaries

Teaching Students Digital Wellbeing

More Play, More Unplugged

Parent Ed Events

Folder: Kids IRL

Simple Phones & Watches

Schools & Ambassadors

Family Guidelines

More IRL, Less URL

Explore Marin & Beyond

About ScreenSense

Setting up a Simple iPhone

“These products are designed to be addictive. They were not designed with children’s well-being in mind.””

— Tristan Harris, former Google Design Ethicist

iPhones are an easy answer to giving a child a phone, but they are not a safe answer without a lot of thought and effort put into it before handing it over. Here’s how you can set up an iPhone for use by a child.

Follow our tutorial Video to see how to set up an iPhone for a child

Important points along the way:

Many parents think it’s safer to let their child use their own Apple ID—but it’s actually the opposite. Creating a separate Apple ID for your child gives you access to Apple’s built-in parental controls. When your child has their own ID, you can add them to your Family account and easily manage what features and content they can use.

Start as simple as possible, and only add apps when you are certain your child can handle the additional distraction and that you can handle the additional parenting task.

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