How to Set Up Parental Controls on iPad

1. Connect your child’s Apple Account

On your own iPhone or iPad, open Settings → your name → Family and follow the setup prompts. Your child should use their own Apple Account in your Family Sharing group.

Already have a family group? Open Settings → Family → Add Member. Create an account for your child or invite their existing account. Apple’s Family Sharing instructions.

2. Open your child’s Screen Time settings

On the parent’s device, go to Settings → Family → your child → Screen Time and follow the prompts. Set a Screen Time passcode to protect the settings. Apple’s current setup guide.

On an older software version, the route may be Settings → Screen Time → your child under Family. Apple also provides instructions for the earlier Screen Time experience.

3. Choose what is available and when

• Time: choose when apps are available and how much time is allowed. Apple’s updated controls use Screen Time Schedules and Time Allowances; these require version 27 or later across the family’s devices and the updated parental controls.
• Content: review app access, purchases, websites and age ratings in Apple’s parental control settings.
• Essentials: check that your child can still reach you and use the apps they need. Review Always Allowed when setting time boundaries.

The menu names depend on your software version. Keep using the instructions that match your device.

How do I limit games on my child’s iPad?

For a set time allowance or schedule, use the Apple Screen Time settings above. If you want your child to earn game time by using learning apps, choose the installed games as Play Apps in L2P. They share one earned balance and become restricted again when that balance reaches zero.

L2P’s app blocking applies to the Play Apps you select, not the whole iPad. It does not replace Apple’s content restrictions or override their time limits. See how learning earns play time or see what the Free plan includes.

4. Add learning-to-play rewards with L2P

If you want learning app time to earn play minutes, follow the L2P setup videos. Pair your child’s device, complete the Screen Time permissions, choose Learning Apps and Play Apps, and select the reward rule.

1. Parent device: open L2P → Parent Device and sign in. Tap Add First Child, enter a nickname and create the child profile.
2. Parent device: in Settings → Manage Family, select the child and choose a reward rule. Free offers 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1 presets. Under Pair Child Device, tap Generate Join Code.
3. Child device: open L2P → Child Device → Join Family. Scan the parent’s QR code or enter the invitation code. Use it before the expiry shown on the parent device.
4. Child device, with the parent present: complete Start Screen Time Setup and Apple’s authorization prompts. Check Device Status, then choose the Learning Apps and Play Apps installed on this device and tap Save Child App Rule. Pairing alone does not complete setup.

L2P measures app usage time, not homework completion or learning achievement. Apple’s own restrictions can still affect app access. See how L2P’s screen time rewards work.

5. Try the routine together

Choose one Learning App and one Play App for your first check. With your child, confirm that learning time earns minutes, play becomes available, and the Play App relocks when the balance is used.

Agree on what happens next: putting the iPad away, dinner or another activity. If “five more minutes” keeps returning, see our illustrated guide to a clearer family routine.