Sign in with a Child Account
This process does not yet werk
This page describes how we plan to implement Child Accounts. They are not currently available.
| Parent or Guardian does this: | Child does this: |
| Parent registers with Tootsville | |
| Parents set up a child login with a verification method (or more than one) | |
| Parent and Child name Child's Toot character and marks it as a Child account. | Child helps Parent choose colors and patterns and name their Toot. |
| … | … |
| Child returns to Tootsville.org and clicks Play Now | |
| Child clicks the special Child sign-in control. (To be determined) | |
| System uses verification mechanism to send Parent a request to play. | While Child is waiting for permission, they choose their Toot character |
| Parent receives verification signal from game — probably an e-mail. | Mist Parrots interact with Child while they wait. |
| Parent confirms sign-in permission | Mist Parrots allow Child to begin play |
| Parent can later revoke permission or set time limit for game play. | Mist Parrots enforce time limits and remove Child from game when they expire. |
| Child leaves game play by quitting or time expired | |
| System may send Parents notification of time in game and other journal information such as player interactions | Child cannot re-enter game without signing in again |
| … OR … | |
| Parent receives sign-in request but declines permission. | Mist Parrots inform Child that they cannot enter the game. |
| … OR … | |
| Parent does not reply to sign-in request for “a long time” (To Be Determined) | Child can re-send request to join game. |
Parent Authorizations
The main authorization method will probably be e-mail. Parents will receive a verification e-mail message with clearly-labeled Yes, Play or No buttons (web links). Clicking Yes will return a success screen with options to set time limits and other forms of supervision.
SMS (text message) authorizations would be great, as well, or perhaps “robo-calls” that parents could navigate. (A recorded call where parents enter a PIN and interact with Touch-Tone keys.) However, these options would cost money to operate — we might have to offer these as a sort of “premium” service. (This does not violate the “really free” standard because this is an additional feature that does not affect game play, as a convenience for parents who would wish to subscribe to that service.)
Waiting For Parents Mode
While waiting for parental authorization, the Mist Parrots should do “something” to entertain the waiting child. Some ideas have been tendered such as playing short, “G-rated” movie selections from a curated list of free programming.
Once permission is received, the child would see an option to sign in immediately, or be allowed to finish watching the current clip.
Time Limits / Kick Function
The normal option is for parents to authorize “xxx hours” of play time. When we get close to the end of that time, an on-screen countdown timer (5 minutes?) should remind the child to “wrap up.”
Parents can click the same e-mail link again and reduce the time remaining down to (10 minutes minimum?) to remove their child early without “kicking them out” immediately.
An immediate “kick” function is probably also possible but seems mean …