Ask HN: How do you manage kids' accounts? 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? |
My family does this except we use 1Password app instead of Passwords. Kids have their own devices, allowance is paid via Apple Cash and they can use either Apple Pay or their virtual card number to buy things in the real world or online. Google and game account credentials are stored on their device or on their PCs via Chrome plugin (which Apple Passwords has as well).
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.
I use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KeePass
You can store the other details in the notes - e.g. which card / account is used for payments, what are the password reset questions & answers, which address is set for delivery.
Then, when you change credit cards / addresses / emails, etc., it's easy enough to find all the accounts you used the old one for and need to update.
Sometimes I made passwords out of details I wanted them to remember.