Under 6: the quick start
A simple, no-guesswork setup for preschoolers and early grade-school kids.
The goal for this age. Keep it simple. One shared device. One profile. Co-use, don’t hand it over.
What you’re protecting against
- Autoplay rabbit holes (YouTube, TikTok) that surface inappropriate content.
- Accidental in-app purchases.
- Inappropriate recommendations and ads.
- Strangers in voice chat on multiplayer games.
Your 30-minute setup
- Use a shared device (family iPad, Fire tablet) — not a personal profile for a four-year-old.
- Install YouTube Kids, not YouTube. Set the age filter. Turn off search if you want maximum control.
- Turn on Screen Time / Amazon Kids+ / Family Link depending on your device.
- Require password for all purchases. No exceptions.
- Download apps in advance so your kid can’t install new ones.
- Put the WiFi router on a family DNS (NextDNS, Cloudflare Families) — see our router guide.
- Set a bedtime routine: device goes in the kitchen at 7pm.
Recommended setups by device
- iPad: Guided Access for single-app mode, Screen Time for overall limits. iPad guide.
- Amazon Fire: Fire Kids Edition + Amazon Kids+ is the easiest turnkey option. Fire guide.
- Android tablet: Google Kids Space profile. Android guide.
What to skip at this age
- Personal smartphones. There is no good reason.
- Messaging apps. WhatsApp, iMessage, Snap — none of these.
- Online multiplayer games with voice chat. Wait.
- Social media. Below the legal COPPA minimum anyway.
Conversation starters
- “If you see something scary or weird, you come get me right away. You’re never in trouble for that.”
- “We watch YouTube together, not alone.”
- “No typing to strangers. Not ever.”