What is a parent gate, and why every kids app should have one

A parent gate is a small task an adult can do easily and a young child cannot, shown before a purchase, a link out of the app or a settings screen. It stops a child buying something or leaving the app by accident. Apple's rules for apps in its Kids category require one.

What Apple requires

Apple's App Review Guidelines say apps in the Kids category must not include links out of the app, purchasing opportunities or other distractions for children unless they sit behind a parental gate. Apple's guidance for kids apps describes the gate as an adult-level task, such as a maths question.

Good gates and weak gates

• Good: a question a 4 to 8 year old cannot answer or read, such as a written sum or an instruction in words.
• Weak: "tap and hold for 3 seconds", which many children work out quickly.
• Good: a fresh question each time, so it cannot be learned.
• Good: gates in front of purchases, external links, settings and sign-in.

How Jupo World uses it

Jupo World puts a parent gate in front of every purchase and in front of the parent area. There is nothing a child can buy on their own, and there are no links out of the game a child can reach.

Questions parents ask

Does a parent gate replace Screen Time or Family Link?

No. A gate protects one app. Your phone's parental controls, such as Apple's Screen Time or Google Family Link, can also require your approval for purchases across all apps.

My child learned the gate. What now?

Turn on "Ask to Buy" (Apple) or purchase approvals (Google) as a second layer.