Kids today have sophisticated, expensive gadgets like the iPhone, iPod and iPad, but that doesn't mean they always know what to do with these devices. Sometimes, just throwing these electronics at the kiddies and saying “Have at it, little one!” is not the best strategy. Children often need their wiser parent figures to make rules and set controls for them. It's kind of like throwing a box of candy on the table and expecting your kid to take only one piece without specifying this first. Likely, the result will be an empty box and a child with a vicious tummy ache.
As parents, there are a few things you can do to improve the way your kids interact with these devices. For example, one common concern is that kids listen to music on their iPod or iPhone at full volume, blowing out their eardrums in the process. CNET's Donald Bell recently noted that you can easily avoid damaged ears by setting a limit on their maximum volume. To do this, first go to Settings, scroll down and select Music. Next, tap Volume Limit, pull down the volume slider to the maximum volume level you think is best. Then, tap back until you get back to the main menu.
You can also lock the volume limit with a password. Open up your Settings, tap General and select Restrictions. Then hit Enable restrictions at the top of the page and enter in a four-digit password. Then scroll down and tap Volume Limit, changing it to Don't Allow Changes before exiting out to the main menu once again.
More parental controls
Don't underestimate your kids, though, as they are probably much craftier than you realize. Consumerist contributor Chris Morran recently reported that a $100 million settlement has been reached to resolve a class-action lawsuit from people who lost money from their children making in-app purchases on iPhones.
While the settlement still needs final court approval, consumers who think they fall into this category can submit claims online through the middle of January 2014. Those who claim $30 or less will receive either $5 iTunes credit or $5 in cash. If you think you deserve more, you will need to list all purchasing dates, prices paid and possibly even a note explaining the situation.
These stories highlight how children can cause mischief when they have these shiny devices at their fingertips. If your kid also decided to see if your gadget could fly, turn to iResQ's iPhone repair and iPad repair services to get things back in working order.