The world of children's Apps certainly isn't new however, in our home it's still fairly new territory. Yes, we have had tablets in our home for the past few years, but in all honesty introducing yet another electronic gadget into my children's lives was something that I preferred to delay, as long as possible. Of course there were a few educational Apps that we downloaded here and there - but they were never allowed to navigate them without an adult present [which is something I still prefer as a parent].
Now that our children are a little older, tablets have become valuable educational tools; we still navigate each and every App purchase with caution though.
I'm sure by now we have all heard horror stories of unassuming children [and parents alike] being blindsided by credit charges via "in-app" purchases. While this still remains a concern, there are so many other factors to consider when making App purchases for children. For example, are the Apps displaying ads that may be inappropriate for our children to view? Are the Apps linking/redirecting to Social Media sites that we may not want our children to access?
In many instances the solution can be as simple as updating the settings/controls on our devices. Knowing what to look for and what to avoid when purchasing children's Apps, is key.
Check out the info-graphic below that the FTC recently released [March 2013] for tips on what to look for and what to avoid when purchasing children's Apps.
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