The most technologically advanced thing I had access to as a child was the family TV. Kids today have powerful smartphones that, sometimes, put mine to shame.

Kids having unlimited access to all the features their smartphones have to offer… doesn’t exactly sound like the best of ideas. That’s why it’s important for parents to oversee their child’s smartphone use. Or as Avira puts it, "put that smartphone on a smart leash."

If you’re a parent and you’re unclear on how to lay the groundwork for responsible smartphone use, security company Avira has been kind enough to put together a list of tips.

In text form.

• Agree to rules before your children will get the first smartphone.
• Choose the right smartphone, and service plan which allows you to stay in control of cost, e.g. with a prepaid mobile phone.
• Set a password for your children’s smartphone and save important phone numbers, e.g. for emergencies.
• Set a time budget for when your children are allowed to use the smartphone, what websites they can visit, and what apps they can download.
• Talk and listen to your children about their smartphone use.
• Remind your children that anything they send from their smartphones can be easily forwarded and shared.
• Teach your children never to reveal smartphone numbers or passwords online.
• Review smartphone records for any unknown numbers and late night phone calls and texts.
• Teach your children not to trust tempting messages of any sort, such as free stuff and discounts but to delete those messages and not to click any links.
• Have a Lost-and-Found plan: get an app that allows to locate the physical location of the smartphone.
• Don't text your kids during the school day. Unless it's a real emergency – like, you're going to the hospital.

And as an infographic.



By using Avira’s AppLock+ you can easily block access to certain apps. You can even automatically lock apps based on a schedule or based on a location. Junior will no longer have access to FAcebook when he gets to school, for example.



Get AppLock+ for Android from Google Play.