News

Actions

Helpful apps for parents to monitor kids devices

Posted at 10:14 PM, Sep 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-27 22:14:33-04

Teens and their telephones, whether they're walking or talking, watching or texting their heads are usually planted in their devices.

"I know if you're like me sometimes you're wondering what are you doing on that thing all the time.  Who are you talking to?

Mia Redrick knows the struggle because she has three children of her own.
The Mom Strategist says no worries, there's an app for that.

"Net Nanny is really great for internet filters."

Redrick says the Net Nanny is great for parental controls.

"You can install the Net Nanny on your home computer and it allows you to keep track of what your kids are doing meaning just having parental controls around profanity, or making sure what your kids are searching online is age appropriate."

If your kids are older and more engaged with the cell phones, the Secure Teen app may be the way to go.

"You install it on their phone and you also install it on your phone and you have the opportunity as a parent 
to see how they're using that ...this is great for text too because you can actually see what the text messages are."

If you're a parent looking for that extra layer of protection, Redrick recommends Teen Safe.

"It allows you to see the call history, the text messages from your kids and also there is a GPS feature.  For example, you've told your child to go straight home and don't go buy whoever's home and they did do that.  Teen Safe is a great way to know that."

The applications apply to Snapchat, Instagram as well as insta-live.  Redrick recommends talking to your children about the applications while they're not for everyone, they can help parents looking to improve the parent to child communication.

"They all have phones and maybe the only way that you can find out is by them putting something on the phone so you can keep them safe and the other people in their world as well."