A Bit About School Mode:
🎓 What Is School Mode on myFirst Fone?
School Mode is a parental control feature designed to limit distractions during school hours, while still keeping essential safety features active. It turns the smartwatch into a simple watch-only mode, blocking access to most interactive functions.
✅ What Does School Mode Do?
When School Mode is activated (via the myFirst Circle parental app), the following happens:
- Disables calling, messaging, camera, and all apps
- Silences notifications and incoming calls
- Locks the screen to only show the time
This helps ensure that your child stays focused during lessons and isn’t tempted to play or chat while at school.
📍 Is GPS Still Running in School Mode?
Yes – GPS tracking continues to work in School Mode.
You’ll still be able to see your child’s location in real-time or get updates at set intervals, depending on your settings. This ensures you maintain full visibility of their whereabouts, even when the watch is locked down for learning.
🕒 Customising School Mode
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You can set specific days and time periods (e.g. weekdays from 9am–3pm) for School Mode to turn on automatically.
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You can also manually activate or deactivate it at any time from the parent app.
Why It Matters
School Mode gives parents peace of mind that their child’s watch is not a classroom distraction, while still keeping core safety features like GPS tracking active. It’s ideal for schools that allow smartwatches but prohibit communication or media use during class.
A Bit About SIM Cards - What You'll Need and Some Tips
1 - Can I Use a Local SIM Card in the myFirst Fone?
Yes – and it’s easy to set up.
All myFirst Fone models (S3, R1c, R1s, R2) are unlocked, so you can use a SIM card from your local mobile provider. This lets your child make calls, send messages, and use GPS tracking.
2 - What Kind of SIM Card Do I Need?
- Type: Nano SIM (the smallest size)
- Network: Must support 4G, voice, SMS, and data
- Plan: Prepay or monthly – either is fine, but make sure it includes data and calls
A small data plan (1–2GB per month) is usually more than enough for daily use.
Before You Put the SIM in the Watch
- Activate the SIM first – insert it into a phone to check it works.
- Make sure data and calls are turned on.
- Turn off the PIN code on the SIM, or the watch won’t be able to use it.
- Insert the SIM into the watch and follow the setup instructions using the myFirst Circle app on your phone.
A Few Helpful Tips
- These watches don’t support eSIM – you’ll need a physical nano SIM.
- If you're using a data-only SIM, some features like calling might not work.
- If needed, your network might ask you to enter APN settings during setup – we can help with that if it happens.
Works With All Major Irish Networks
Some popular Irish providers that work well with myFirst Fone watches include:
- Three Ireland
- Vodafone
- Eir
- Tesco Mobile
- GoMo
You can pick up a suitable SIM in most phone shops or supermarkets.
A Bit About Battery Life:
Battery Life & Charging: myFirst Fone Models Compared
| Model | Typical Battery Life | Charging Time |
|---|---|---|
| S3 | Up to 2 days | Approx. 2 hours |
| R1c | Up to 2 days | Approx. 2 hours |
| R1s | Up to 2 days | Approx. 2 hours |
| R2 | Up to 2 days | Approx. 1.5–2 hours |
Note: Battery life varies depending on how often your child uses features like video calls, GPS tracking, and the camera.
Tips to Prolong Battery Life
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Use School Mode
Activating School Mode during class time disables notifications and background features, which reduces power drain. -
Limit Background GPS Tracking
Continuous GPS tracking can shorten battery life. Consider setting location updates to specific intervals (e.g., every 10–15 minutes) instead of real-time when appropriate. -
Adjust Screen Brightness
Lowering the screen brightness or enabling automatic brightness helps conserve power. -
Close Unused Features
Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or step tracking when not needed. These functions can draw battery even in the background. -
Shorten Screen Timeout
Reducing the time the screen stays on after use (e.g., setting it to 10 or 15 seconds) helps preserve energy. -
Update Firmware
Ensure the watch is using the latest software – updates can include battery optimisation improvements. -
Encourage Efficient Usage
Help your child develop good habits – for example, not leaving video calls running in the background or tapping buttons repeatedly.
Charging Advice for Parents
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Use the supplied magnetic USB charging cable only to ensure safe and efficient charging.
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A full charge typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the model.
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Charging overnight is safe, but try to unplug once full to maintain long-term battery health.
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If the watch is not in daily use (e.g. over school holidays), charge it to 50–60% and power it down for storage.
