Android phone to distract toddler

Forums › Android › Android phone to distract toddler - how to lock down

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#1899827 12-Nov-2017 23:14

and yet my son was a L8 Ingress player by age 6 ;) ...

These days im looking at ways to lock down the Lenovo tab he was given from his uncle last Christmas... as an Apple family, I LOVE "Guided Access" pin-code lockdown, but am struggling to find a way to allow him access to ONLY Mathletics during homework time, as the feint onscreen 'button' was found on the first day i tried using it *sigh*

Consequences only go so far with an ADHD kid who literally can't seem to help them-self flicking over to Agario etc. instead of doing their homework, and the iPad 3 (the "new" iPad - LOL!) is now cranking along rather slow and can't keep up with LiveMath challenges \_0_/

timmmay

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#1899928 13-Nov-2017 07:29

Our one year old holds the phone, and occasionally hits the screen with a finger, hit himself with the phone, or hits things with the phone. When he gets within 2m of my kindle he manages to change the font size or other settings in about 50ms.

Pinned youtube is fine, but given I was setting up an old phone anyway I figured there'd a launcher or something that would mean it would hopefully be good even when he gets a bit smarter.

Why don't people eat people? Ask if he'd like to be dinner ;)

CJC

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#1900218 13-Nov-2017 14:19

Wife's S5 came with a Samsung 'Kids Mode' app. Couldn't (easily) get it to run on my non-Samsung phone, might work on an S4 though.

It has a few cool little built-in apps (like voice changers and music makers) and you can also add access to other apps such as Youtube Kids. Has done a very good job of keeping our 2.5 year old in kids mode for the last couple of years. I have to use screen-pinning on my phone otherwise she's off changing settings or calling Paw Patrol.

MileHighKiwi

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#1900247 13-Nov-2017 15:23

We sometimes give our son (15 months) the phone when he needs to be changed or is being difficult to dress, or even waiting at the doctors etc, and I chuck on Bob the Builder or similar on YouTube and use an app called 'Touch Lock' so he can't stop the video, navigate away etc. When the video starts you just pull down on the screen and tap the Touch Lock icon. Nice and easy.

slingynz

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#1900274 13-Nov-2017 16:38

MileHighKiwi:

We sometimes give our son (15 months) the phone when he needs to be changed or is being difficult to dress, or even waiting at the doctors etc, and I chuck on Bob the Builder or similar on YouTube and use an app called 'Touch Lock' so he can't stop the video, navigate away etc. When the video starts you just pull down on the screen and tap the Touch Lock icon. Nice and easy.

We use Touch Lock. I can't remember if it disables the hard buttons but it definitely stops soft buttons from working.

timmmay

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#1900279 13-Nov-2017 16:52

The problem with Nova launcher is if you swipe down from the top of the screen you can get into Touchwiz settings. My boy manages to do that almost every time we give the phone to him. Pinning youtube might be a better solution.

The really tough questions are:

How do you get the phone off them without a tantrum?
Why is everything so sticky???!!!

MadEngineer

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#1900295 13-Nov-2017 17:44

Geez, give em a set of car keys to rattle.

For nappy changing, master the single handed thumb + two finger hold lock on both ankles leaving the other hand free.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

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timmmay

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#1900340 13-Nov-2017 18:33

Yeah I worked that hold out pretty much right away. He rarely cries for me, not sure why he cries more for others.

Batman

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#1900375 13-Nov-2017 20:39

if you can't outsmart a toddler how can you outsmart them when they're 14?

timmmay

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#1900385 13-Nov-2017 21:18

Batman:

if you can't outsmart a toddler how can you outsmart them when they're 14?

Before I had a baby I didn't know how to change a nappy. Before he ate solid food I didn't know how to feed a baby. Before I had a toddler I didn't know how to negotiate with a terrorist. Pretty sure I'll work it out.

Thanks for your positive and constructive comment.

MadEngineer

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#1900400 13-Nov-2017 22:27

timmmay:
Yeah I worked that hold out pretty much right away. He rarely cries for me, not sure why he cries more for others.

let me guess, you’re consistent and others aren’t? The second he learns that others can be controlled the second he’ll use that to his gain.

It works both ways - three times/days in a row of both parents winning a battle will yield amazing results.

It’s vital to be consistent.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#1900454 14-Nov-2017 07:24

I think we're all reasonably consistent. I just don't take any sillyness. If he squirms I hold him gently but firmly until he does what I want. He probably just knows others will give him a phone but I won't.

evilengineer

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#1900475 14-Nov-2017 08:29

I'm going to come over all Victorian Dad, here.

But there's no way a toddler should be having significant screen time on a phone or tablet.

Our 3 year old gets an hour of TV programs a day (max) and that's pretty much it.

Even the 5 and 8 year olds in our house don't get device time at home. They get plenty of that at school.

Like I say, maybe we're a bit old school. And that's just my opinion.

timmmay

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#1900480 14-Nov-2017 08:34

I know, we try to avoid screen time, but 5 minutes to distract him won't hurt. The only other time he gets screen is while we're watching dinner, from his baby pen thingy, or if he's really upset he gets to watch some Moana.

You're welcome.

jonathan18

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#1900490 14-Nov-2017 08:58

I’m sure the OP really appreciates all the parenting advice, because that’s what one asks for and expects on a tech forum... Judgy much?!

Anyway, in a return to the actual question: we have an app called Kids Place on my old Android phone to allow us to restrict what my son can access on it - primarily this is aimed at allowing him to use Spotify in the morning but nothing else! It’s basically an alternative launcher, which I have set up on its own user account on the phone (meaning it can still easily function as our backup emergency phone), Requires active selection of apps to be included for access, and a password to get out of it. Worth a trial, I suggest (it’s free too!).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kiddoware.kidsplace

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