Parents' guide

Peace of mind while your child plays

What makes a children's game safe is not just its content; it is also its ads, its purchase buttons and the data it collects. In this guide we have brought together our promise, experts' screen-time recommendations, ways to choose safe apps and the protection settings you can turn on on your device.

No ads

Your child is never exposed to ads and never leaves the game by tapping one by accident.

No purchases

No surprise bills; there is nothing that can be bought with real money.

No data

No names, locations, photos or device information are collected; no permissions are requested.

No external links

There is no chat, no social media and no links to other websites.

What our games do not have

  • Ad networks or use of the advertising ID
  • Analytics, statistics or tracking tools
  • Third-party software development kits (SDKs)
  • Location, camera, microphone or contacts permissions
  • Sign-ups, log-ins or requests for an email address
  • Notifications that call your child back to the game

What our games do have

  • Short levels, with a natural moment to take a break at the end of each one
  • Big picture buttons that can be understood without reading
  • Gameplay that never punishes and always encourages
  • Music and sound effects that can be turned off separately
  • A clear privacy policy in English and Turkish
  • A support address parents can always reach
Screen time by age

What do the experts recommend?

We have summarized in plain words the screen recommendations for young children from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Ages 0–2
Babies
  • Screen time is not recommended for children under 1, and sedentary screen time is not recommended for 1-year-olds either (WHO).
  • For children younger than 18 months, screens are not recommended except for video calls with family (AAP).
  • Between 18 and 24 months, if you want to introduce screens, choose only high-quality content and always use it together (AAP).
Ages 2–5
Preschool
  • No more than 1 hour of sedentary screen time a day; less is better (WHO, AAP).
  • Choose high-quality, age-appropriate content; play and talk together as much as you can (AAP).
  • No screens during meals or in the hour before bed (AAP).
Ages 6 and up
School age
  • Set consistent limits on time spent on screens and on the types of content (AAP).
  • Screens should not take the place of sleep, physical activity and family time (AAP).
  • Create a family media plan together with your child that everyone follows (AAP).
We design our baby series for the youngest children with these recommendations in mind: short, simple games to be played together with a parent. In the series' apps, Animal Sounds, Vehicle Sounds and Colors Shapes Numbers, you can choose a play-time limit of 10–30 minutes in the parent area; when the time is up, a cute "sleepy time" screen suggests a break.
This information is for general guidance and is not a substitute for medical advice. For questions about your own child, please talk to your pediatrician.
Choosing safe apps

8 questions to ask before you download

Spending a few minutes on the Google Play page before downloading a children's app prevents most surprises later on. You can use these questions for any app.

Does it contain ads?

On the Google Play page, look for the "Contains ads" label under the app's name.

Bebek App games have no ads

Are there in-app purchases?

If you see "In-app purchases", check the price range and require a password for payments.

Bebek App games have no purchases

What data is collected?

The "Data safety" section on the page shows which data the app collects and shares.

Bebek App games collect no data

Is it right for your child's age?

Look at the age rating and the target age group stated by the developer, and always read the description.

Every game of ours states its age range

Which permissions does it ask for?

If a children's game asks for access to your location, camera, microphone or contacts, ask yourself why.

Bebek App games ask for no permissions

Is there a door to the outside?

Chat, adding friends, social media sharing or links to other websites all carry risks.

No chat and no external links

Is the privacy policy clear?

The developer's privacy policy and contact address should be easy to find and written in plain language.

In English and Turkish, on one page

Have you tried it first?

Play for a few minutes yourself: are there scary scenes, punishments, pressure or "buy now" buttons?

No punishment, always encouragement

Which kinds of games for which age?

Different kinds of games make more sense at different stages of a child's development.

Ages 1–3

Cause-and-effect games that respond to a touch with sound and movement; animal sounds, colors and big, single-tap areas. Short, and together with a parent.

Ages 3–5

Simple goals such as matching, counting, collecting and short races; picture menus that need no reading, and instant positive feedback.

Ages 6–8

Levels, small tasks, collections and simple strategy; games that get harder little by little and nurture patience and the feeling of "I did it".

Device settings

Protections you can turn on on your phone and tablet

These settings take a few minutes to turn on on Android devices, and they help with all apps, not just our games.

Google Play parental controls

Prevents apps that are not right for your child's age from being downloaded.

  1. Open the Play Store and tap the profile icon at the top right.
  2. Go to Settings › Family › Parental controls.
  3. Turn the controls on and set a PIN that only you know.
  4. Under Apps & games, choose a suitable age limit and save.

A password for purchases

Our games have no purchases, but we strongly recommend turning this on for other apps.

  1. In the Play Store, tap the profile icon and open Settings › Authentication.
  2. Tap Require authentication for purchases.
  3. Select "For all purchases".

Google Family Link

A free Google app that lets you manage your child's device from your own phone.

  1. Install the Google Family Link app on your own phone.
  2. Create a Google account for your child or link their existing account.
  3. Set things like a daily time limit, bedtime and app approvals.

Screen pinning

While your child is in the game they cannot switch to other apps, so you can hand over your phone with peace of mind.

  1. Type "pin" into the search box in Settings and turn on App pinning or Screen pinning.
  2. Open the game, then on the recent apps screen tap the game's icon and choose "Pin".
  3. To exit, use the gesture your device shows; if you like, the screen lock password can be required.

Airplane mode

Because our games work offline, they also play perfectly in airplane mode.

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open quick settings.
  2. Tap the airplane icon; calls, messages and the internet connection are cut off.
  3. When the game is over, tap the same icon to turn it off.

Do Not Disturb mode

Stops notifications and calls from interrupting when you hand your phone to your child.

  1. Open quick settings and tap the "Do Not Disturb" icon.
  2. If you like, allow calls only from certain people.
  3. Remember to turn the mode off again when the game is over.
Menu names may differ slightly depending on your device's brand and Android version. If you cannot find a setting, use the search box in Settings.
Healthy habits

6 small tips for digital play

A few habits that are easy to put into practice and help in everyday life.

Play together

Play the first games together with your child. Ask what they are doing and celebrate their successes together.

Agree on the time in advance

Talk about a clear limit such as "two races" or "ten minutes" before the game starts; setting a timer makes it easier to accept.

Keep screens in shared spaces

Using the device in the living room or somewhere in view lets you naturally see what is going on.

Don't make screens a reward

Using screen time as a reward or a punishment gives it more value than it deserves; let it be an ordinary part of the routine.

Take a break before sleep

In the hour before bed, choose books, a chat or quiet games instead of screens.

Bring the game into real life

Talk about the colors, animals and vehicles they saw in the game; feed their imagination away from the screen too.

Break time

Making it easier to step away from the screen

"Just one more!" protests happen with most children. A few small habits make these moments much easier.

  • Give advance noticeA concrete limit such as "two more races" is easier to understand than "five minutes left".
  • Use the natural end pointIn our games every level ends with a results screen; that is the best moment to stop.
  • Plan what comes nextA next activity such as "when the game is over, we're going to the park together" makes the transition easier.
  • Acknowledge their feelingsSaying "I know, you want to keep playing" shows you understand them while you keep the limit.
  • Be consistentWhen the same rules are applied the same way every day, protests fade over time.
Frequently asked questions

What parents ask us

Are Bebek App games free?

Yes. Our games are free; they contain no ads, no in-app purchases and no subscriptions.

Can my child buy something by accident?

No. There is nothing in our games that can be bought with real money. In-game coins are earned only by playing and are used only inside the game. For other apps, we recommend turning on a password for purchases.

Do the games collect personal data?

No. Our games collect no personal data, ask for no device permissions and send no data to any server. Game progress is stored only on your device. For the details, see our app privacy policies.

Do your games send notifications?

No. Our games do not ask for notification permission and never send "come and play" notifications calling your child back to the game.

How much screen time should children have a day?

The World Health Organization does not recommend screen time for children under 1; for ages 2 to 4 it says sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour a day, and less is better. For the details, see the screen time by age section, and for questions about your own child, please talk to your pediatrician.

Can we play the games offline?

Yes. Once downloaded, the games play without an internet connection; they use no mobile data and also work in airplane mode.

Can my child leave the game and go somewhere else?

Our games have no links to other websites or apps. If you also want to stop your child from getting back to the phone's home screen, you can use the screen pinning feature.

What ages are the games suitable for?

Every game's page shows the recommended age range. Animal Sounds, Vehicle Sounds and Colors Shapes Numbers are designed for ages 1–5, Baby Piano for ages 1–6, Alphabet Friends for ages 2–6, Vroom Vroom, Hop Hop Friends and Coloring Friends for ages 3–8, and Chess Friends for ages 4–12.

Can progress get lost?

Progress is stored on your device and is kept as long as you do not delete the app. If Android backup is turned on on your device, Android may add this progress to the backup in your own Google account; we have no access to that backup.

How can I share a concern or a suggestion?

Just write to destek@bebek.app. We read every message from parents and take it into account as we improve our games.

Have a question?

We read every question and suggestion from parents and take them into account as we improve our games.

destek@bebek.app Our games