All parents need to know the parent controls on these three iPhones and iPads

As a parent of three young children with limited screen times, the prospect of giving my own iPad or iPhone sends me into an uneasy spiral. Having to micromanage screen time (and subsequent over-stimulated meltdowns) and also trying to protect social media and all the other horrors online is enough to make your screen want to make a full vow. But I am also a realist and I know I can’t dodge the screen forever. In fact, their peak devices are just a little over. When that time comes, I’ll have all the tools in place.

Fortunately, Apple has features like child accounts, screen time settings, and communication restrictions, with an incredible number of guardrails and parental controls that help parents create a safer digital environment. And there’s more along the way.

Apple’s latest tools, iPhone and iPad iOS 26 Each iPados 26 helps parents set age-appropriate content filters, monitor app usage, limit communication, and blur explicit images before displaying them on the screen. You feel confident to find them, set them up, and hand over the screen to your child. Regardless of age.

Setting up child accounts: key to unlock parent controls

Setting up a child account is the key to unlocking all these great parental control features, so if you haven’t already delivered it, make sure you do this first. With Apple, you can use iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watchparents have full control of their settings remotely through their devices. Unlike Apple TV, on a shared iPhone or iPad, you will need to choose whether to set it up as an adult or child account. There are no multi-user options. Starting in September, iOS 26 and iPads 26 can also convert existing devices to child accounts without the need for a reset. This means you can keep the content you already have on your Apple device.

There are three ways to set up a child account on a new device:

1. The first (and simplest) is to use your own device. As soon as you bring the two devices closer to each other, the setup instructions should automatically appear on the screen Quick Start.
2. If not used Quick Startcan be set up directly to a new device. Just choose Set up without another device Follow the on-screen instructions. If you are setting up a device for children under 12 years old, you will need to link to an adult account.
3. You can also create a child’s account in advance even if your child’s device is not nearby. I’m going setting > (your name) > familythen tap Add a user Icon in the top right corner. Select Create a child account Follow the prompts.

Screen Time: Command Center for Parent Control

When creating a child account, you will be asked to select an age range of 12 or less or 13-17 years old. This automatically sets the baseline filter for content and services, Screen time Your own device configuration. From here you can manage what your child is watching, how long they use their device, who they can communicate with (among many others).

Access Screen time Control, go setting > familytap to select the child’s name Screen time.

Once you’re in, here’s everything you can be responsible for:

• Downtime: Schedule corruption from screen time. You can schedule specific times and days when your child cannot access certain apps ( Always allowed Section) or choose to block the device completely. When downtime comes, they lift their heads for five minutes.

• Always allowed: Select apps and contacts that your child can access.

• Screen distance: Warn your child when he is bringing the device too close to his face to protect his still mature vision.

• Communication Limitations: Set detailed rules for when your child can contact you. For example, you can allow calls from parents or emergency contacts Downtimeeven if everything else is blocked.

• Communication Safety: Detect nudes in photos before they are sent or received, alert your child, and provide a moment to pause and consider whether they want to see them. This isn’t easy, it’s something you want to keep going. It also suggests age-appropriate resources that Apple will let children know without looking at content.

• Content and Privacy Limitations: Purchase and download of Micromanage. Choose whether your child can download and purchase the app, restrict purchases of what they can access within the app, or block access to the App Store entirely. You can also disable features like Airdrop under Allowed Apps and Features.

• App Store, Media, Web & Games: Set age-based rating limits for everything from TV shows and movies to games, books and apps (from G to NC-17 or equivalent). You can also block music videos and limit game private messages to prevent sleazy workarounds with unauthorized contacts.

• Screen Time Management: You will receive an alert if your child has a screen time passcode. This is part of iOS 26 and will be available this fall. In the meantime, if you suspect you have cracked the code without having to access your child’s device, you can change the code remotely.

Beyond that, there are options to manage subscriptions your child has access to, and whether they can send and receive Apple Cash or remove options from the menu.

Position sharing: Get real-time head-ups about your child’s location

Whether it’s an iPhone, Apple Watch, or even an iPad, one of the greatest benefits of giving your child a device is that they can pay attention to where they are (make sure they know that too). Not only can you see where they are, you can also set up alerts to notify you when you arrive or leave a specific location.

You’ll find Location sharing Options under your child’s profile family Account Settings (the last option on the list). From here you can block your child from changing location settings, but to get the most out of the functionality, Find me App.

When open Find metap on the child’s name to see where you are. Then swipe to view the full menu and tap Add notifications > I’ll notify me. From here you can choose to get an alert when your child arrives or leaves a specific location, such as home, school, or a friend’s house. Tap New location Enter the address manually or tap the screen to drop the pins on the map. You can choose to receive an alert only once or if you go every time you go.

Do you want to return your favor? Tap Notify (your child’s name), follow the same steps. Your phone will automatically notify your child when you arrive or leave a designated location.

The exact settings may vary slightly depending on the age range you choose, but the core controls remain the same.

With iOS 26 and iPads 26, Apple is adding even more detailed parent tools. Nudity filters are extended to FaceTime (and potentially third-party apps), allowing you to alert when your child enters the screen time passcode, allowing you to remotely revoke app permissions even after the child has already started using the app.

There’s already enough to worry about being a parent (especially with online risks), but hopefully these features will help you to have at least one worry. Remember, even the best technical tools are not a substitute for face-to-face guidance from parents and caregivers. When introducing your child to a screen, it helps you make sure you have an age-appropriate conversation about online safety and build your own healthy screen time habits.