When kids make the transition from an Amazon tablet to an iPhone or iPad, they may already be tech-savvy, but there’s still a learning curve. While they can easily download an app or send an emoji, teaching them basic iOS skills early on can make their experience smoother and even less stressful for you. Here are seven basic iOS tips every child should know.
Sharing and stopping location sharing
Location sharing is a useful feature on iPhone, but it’s important to teach your kids how to use it responsibly. In iOS 18 and later, they can quickly share their location in the Messages app by tapping the plus icon and selecting Location. They can choose to share their location for a specific time period, like one hour or until the end of the day. However, it’s just as important to know how to stop sharing their location. By navigating to the contact page with whom they’ve shared their location, they can tap Stop sharing my location. For extra peace of mind, you can view a list of contacts with whom they’ve shared their location in Settings > Privacy and Security > Location Services.
Organize Apps and Home Screens
Most kids are familiar with moving and deleting apps, but they may not know how to manage multiple apps at once. Teach them to press and hold an app icon until it starts to wiggle, then select other apps to move along. For quicker organization, they can also rearrange entire pages of apps by long-pressing an icon and then tapping Edit Page. Focus modes simplify home screens and are also useful because they can be customized for different times of day—for example, a simplified layout for bedtime.
Pin Messages and Quick Replies
A great way to help kids stay organized is to teach them how to pin important conversations in Messages. By pressing and holding a conversation and selecting Pin, they can easily access chats with you or other key people. Additionally, they should know that if they receive a message while using another app, they can simply swipe down to reply without leaving the current app. This simple feature can be a huge time saver.
Recover Deleted Photos
Mistakes happen, and sometimes photos get accidentally deleted. Luckily, Apple gives you up to 30 days to recover deleted photos. Teach your child to go to the Recently Deleted folder in the Photos app, which they’ll need to use Face ID or their passcode to access. Once in the folder, they can select the photo or video they want to restore or permanently delete.
Take and edit screenshots
Screenshots are a convenient way to capture important moments or information using iPhone. To take a screenshot, they can simply press the Volume Up and Power buttons at the same time. Once taken, the screenshot will briefly appear at the bottom of the screen, where they can crop, add text or drawings, and then save it. Teach your child that it’s a good habit to delete unnecessary screenshots to prevent the Photos app from becoming cluttered.
Manage storage
Over time, your child’s iPhone can quickly fill up with photos, apps, and videos. Help them stay on top of their storage by showing them how to access iPhone storage under Settings > General. Here, they can see how much space they’ve used, which apps are taking up the most storage, and get suggestions for freeing up space. For example, the Music app will highlight songs that can be removed to save space.
Stay Secure with a Password App
Memorizing passwords can be tricky, but the iPhone’s Password App makes it easier. Not only does it store login credentials, it also allows you to share them securely. By creating a sharing group, you can manage passwords for services like school platforms or streaming services and share them with family members when necessary. Even if you’re not ready to share all your passwords, it’s still helpful to set up a group to share information, such as Wi-Fi passwords or two-factor authentication codes.
By teaching your child these basic iOS skills, you’re not only helping them become more independent, but also ensuring they use their device safely and responsibly. These tips will make their experience with their iPhone smoother and less stressful for both of you.
Get the Best iPhone Battery Replacement
If your child’s iPhone battery is running low, or you just want to make sure their device stays in top shape, you can find high-quality replacement batteries at UltrabookBattery (https://www.ultrabookbattery.com/smartphone-battery/apple). With a one-year warranty and 30-day return policy, you can buy with peace of mind and keep your device running like new.