Not only do smartphones keep us connected and entertained, they also give parents and children peace of mind because they have so much information in their pockets.
Smart devices have many benefits, but using them unsupervised can cause problems such as eye irritation and schoolwork interruptions. You can limit these negative effects by monitoring and limiting your child’s activity on smart devices.
Here are 5 apps to monitor your child’s phone usage.
Google Family Link
This app allows parents with Android devices to limit their child’s screen time and customize SafeSearch filters to prevent inappropriate content from appearing in search results .
Family Link also allows parents to block certain apps from being installed on their child’s Android device. If your child tries to turn off supervision, the device will be locked until you unlock it.
Norton Family
Norton Family gives you the option to receive insights on browser history reports, YouTube viewing history, and search keywords.
You can also remotely lock your child’s smart device. It also has a feature called “School Time” to help you stay focused while doing your homework online.
This service is compatible with most devices and their software. It costs about $50 a year.
LIFE360
Life360 is a service centered on location information sharing. With features like Place Alerts and Crash Detection, you can be alerted when your child is leaving or arriving somewhere, or if they may have been in a car accident.
The app also provides the option to dispatch local emergency services in the event of an emergency when the “SOS” feature is triggered. Life360 also offers data breach alerts and anti-theft features.
All of these features are paywalled with subscriptions ranging from $15 to $25 per month.
amazon kids
Amazon Kids, which works similarly to the Netflix Kids profile, provides a tailored experience for children of the age of their choice.
Amazon Kids also allows parents to set goals for their children to complete specific tasks within a certain amount of time and to restrict access to specific web pages. It also blocks in-app purchases.
Amazon Kids works best on Amazon’s Fire tablets, but the app is also available for download on Android and iOS devices.
Custodio
Like Norton Family, Qustodio provides reports on your child’s device activity, but what makes Qustodio stand out is the option to view texts and calls on your child’s phone.
Having boundaries with children and respecting their privacy is very important in maintaining a relationship with them, so we don’t recommend using it as a first option or even testing it. It’s nice to have on hand should you find yourself in a particular situation where you feel you need to take advantage of this feature.
Qustodio is compatible with most mobile platforms and subscriptions cost up to $138 per year.
–via new york family
