Hey there! The simplest (and free) route is Apple’s built-in Screen Time. You can lock the phone down so only a handful of “Always Allowed” apps run, shut off web access, block new installs—and do it all under your own passcode. Here’s the rough sketch:
• Family Sharing & Screen Time: add the iPhone to your Apple ID’s Family Sharing, then set it up as a child device.
• Always Allowed: under Screen Time → Always Allowed, pick only the games or dialer/emergency app you want your kid to use.
• Downtime: schedule “Allowed Apps Only” all day (or just at night) so nothing else launches.
• Content & Privacy: disable App Store, in-app purchases, Safari, Siri web search, explicit content—you name it.
No internet = flip off Wi-Fi/Cellular or set Web Content to “Allowed Websites Only” (you can manually list any safe pages).
If you want fancier dashboards (social, location alerts, remote lock), check apps like OurPact, Qustodio or Mobicip. They require a small subscription and you’ll install a management profile, but honestly for one or two games Screen Time nails it.
Bottom line: give it a spin tonight—kids hit walls in minutes if you’ve locked down everything but that Mario clone. Easy, zero-cost and no mystery apps needed.