While technological tools, including tablets and smartphones, can play a vital role in a child’s education and growth, getting too much screen time can carry risks for kids. The use of these devices, for example, may impact brain development and expose little ones to inappropriate content. For this reason, parents must take extra care to ensure their child’s device usage is part of a balanced lifestyle. If you’re thinking about gifting an iPad® or other Apple® device to your young child, here are a few best practices that can help promote a healthy relationship with tech.

4 Tips to Consider Before Giving an iPad to a Young Kid

1. Set Time Limits

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should restrict screen time to reduce the risk of developmental issues in kids. The appropriate amount of exposure will ultimately depend on the child’s age and behavioral patterns. However, it’s generally recommended that toddlers get no more than one hour of screen time each day.

2. Use a Protective Case

When kids are clumsy or easily distracted, they can lose grip of their iPad, causing it to drop on the floor. To prevent damage from these types of accidents, enclose the device in a shock-absorbent iPad protective case.

3. Adjust Parental Controls

If your child understands how to browse streaming videos or browse the Internet, there’s always a possibility that they will come across media that isn’t age-appropriate. Fortunately, you can adjust these settings on your child’s Apple® device with parental controls. To access these controls on an iPad, open Settings, and select Screen Time. Next, select Content & Privacy Restrictions where you’ll be able to allow and prohibit specific actions.

4. Ban Before Sleep 

To help ensure your child has a consistent sleep schedule, never let them go to bed with their iPad or any other device. Research shows that exposure to the screen’s blue light can delay the body’s release of melatonin—a hormone that helps induce sleep. This delayed-release can cause a kid to stay up longer, throw off their circadian rhythm, and experience daytime fatigue.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to advance your child’s technological development, turn to the team at Experimax King of Prussia in Pennsylvania. Serving the Greater Philadelphia area, this retailer offers a wide range of certified pre-owned Apple® devices, including iPads at low prices. Or, if you want to fix-up a device you already own, these specialists can provide iPad repairs you can count on. To learn more about their services and inventory of used Apple® products, visit this store online or call (610) 265-3174.