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Ask HN: How do you manage kids' accounts?

10 points by xfax ago | 4 comments

My kids are just getting to the point where I need to manage several internet accounts (iCloud, Google, Amazon Kids) and parental controls settings across several devices (iPad, Alexa, Apple Watch).

It’s getting a bit confusing between passwords, content settings, notifications, payments, PINs etc.

What system do you use to keep this manageable in your household?

BrianGrug |next [-]

When I taught, we'd do the following

1. Each kid gets their own email 2. Each kid gets a password manager 3. The emails are managed by the parents, sometimes as a child account (Gmail) 4. Use a VCC service to generate a VCC for each child with a spending limit/require approval for all transactions. Keep it in the password manager so they can easily use it anywhere

Once the emails are managed, setting up parental controls on the devices themself should be easy.

On another note, keep the barrier low. Let them figure out a way to get past it. This is what they actually want to learn about, and by doing this it kinda "forces" them. This is how most kids that I've taught got into tech.

shinryuu |root |parent [-]

What do you mean, keep the barriers low?

WarOnPrivacy |next |previous [-]

We do locally stored spreadsheets and text files for passwords.

Sometimes I made passwords out of details I wanted them to remember.

eimrine |previous [-]

I would rather have a no device then having to even discuss its usage with an old fart. The most important knowledge of using the Internets is where to find a good porn and not able to admit it makes you a shitty person who wants to promote its shitty morale using technical means for that. Just buy some GNU/Linux computer with VPN, ready for torrents, - don't be the wannabe marionette keeper.