Parental Controls Kids Don’t Want
There are many parental controls kids don’t want but need, but I’m going with just a few today. Parental controls are more necessary today than ever before. Sometimes I feel like I should just take my family right off the grid. If I am busy around the house and my kids are sitting on the computer or an iPod, I am that mom who goes bonkers and kicks them outside.
Actually they have a choice. They can start folding laundry or get outside and find something to do. It drives me crazy to see kids just sitting around. Kids are supposed to have all of this energy and free time. When as adults do we get hours and hours of free time where someone is telling us to just play?
With that being said, there are times when I allow them to use their devices. Here at home I can control them a little bit. I can use a variety of parental controls to make sure that when they type in a word, they don’t get a big surprise! I can also put apps on their stuff that limits their time on them. Sometimes that’s better than me telling them it’s time to get off. It takes the “bad cop” label off of me.
Parentkit & Mobile Guardian are just 2 mobile apps you can use. Parentkit and Mobile Guardian apps can control and schedule what is on your child’s iPod, iPad or iPhone. You get to decide when your child has access, and it allows you to block Apps, Movies, TV Shows and Music based on age ratings. This is supposed to work when your child is not in your home also.
According to the Net Nanny website:
“Net Nanny� is the #1-rated parental controls software that protects your family from pornography, online predators, cyberbullying, and much more, keeping your family safe online.”
There are several track my phone apps out there now so you know where your kids are and they are where they say they are going to be. The only problem with that, is the phone needs to be with them and not sitting in a car somewhere or left in their bedroom or at a friends house while they sneak out the window.
Our kids have our old phones they use just to play games on and they share a couple of iPod’s. I use the restriction passcode on them. If I don’t want them on the internet, I disable it. If I don’t want them watching anything rated over PG, I can do that too. It’s a nice feature. I feel I have some parental control this way.
I love the idea of Net nanny. The internet is filled with crap these days. Even though we stress to the kids about appropriate use on the internet even when they are at their friends house, we’re not stupid. We were kids once too. Right? The only difference is our access was much more limited to what they have now (and my husband only had to reach under his bed and flip through a magazine!) hee hee.
Most every website, like YouTube has parental controls these days, but you have to use them. I still think the best parental controls is shutting them off and getting them interested in something cool and fun. Teach them how to build something or put something together. Have them go hunting. There are so many things they could be doing instead of sitting on a computer. Technology is awesome but it will never replace good old fashioned play in my eyes.
I am a wife and mother of 5 great kids. Everything I write about has something to do with my family. I am always looking for and trying things that will keep the kids healthy, happy and active.
Please note that I may occasionally receive some form of compensation when recommending other experts services or products.
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