Parental Control Apps for Your Child
Babyment
Many children are glued to the screen in today’s era. Yet, there are many dangers lurking in the Internet are exposed to them. How can parents ensure that their children do not view inappropriate content at such a young age where they may not be able to discern between right and wrong? While we can limit their screen time, but as they grow older and attend school, many of us parents give smartphones to our children so that they can contact us, or use it for certain administration purposes in school. Thus, the thing we can do is installing a suitable parental control application to ensure proper usage of the Internet on their screens.
This is essential for their mental health as well because less screen time and mobile games means more physical activity outside, real life interaction with friends, productive time learning a skill or taking up a hobby or sport. While it may be seen as being over-restrictive for some, it is in fact beneficial for the upbringing of your children in their growing years. We have listed some of the best parental control apps out there below.
1. FamilyTime (Android and iOS)
FamilyTime allows you to limit device access during your children’s study hours and chores. This can ensure that they concentrate on their work and can only play after they are done with them. This gives them the necessary discipline they need in their life and prevents addiction to the Internet. This helps them to nurture a lifelong habit of focusing on finishing their work first before playtime.
You can also limit screen time during night hours to ensure that they sleep instead of using their phones till late night. Adequate sleep is important in the growing years of children.
With FamilyTime, you can also control what websites, images, videos and other content your children can access on the internet. For instance, you can block their access to pornographic material and even make it so that they would not be able to see search results with pornographic material.
The internet is a minefield of inappropriate content for children. With the internet filter, you can select and block access to specific content categories so your children will not stumble upon websites that are harmful to them.
Moreover, FamilyTime allows you to track your children’s whereabouts and instantly know when they visit suspicious places. FamilyTime allows you to geo-fence as many places as you want to. You will get instant alerts when your children enter or leave geo-fenced places any time. The application also allows you to find out where your children are at the moment.
The FamilyTime App Blocker application is also useful when you need to curb your children’s addiction towards specific games such as Crash Royale or Mobile Legend. Rather than letting them play mobile games, organise an alternative activity for them such as dance or sport classes, or family outings that can increase their real life social interaction or increase the family bond.
The free version of FamilyTime only has a small set of features. There is a range of premium plans to choose from, which will cost you $27, $35, $45 or $69 annually.
2. Qustodio (Android, iOS, Kindle and Nook)
Qustodio allows you to view the social network activity of your children, such as time spent on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp and more. Similarly, it blocks pornography even in private browsing mode, and allows you to easily set a time schedule or limits for how much internet time is allowed each day. You can also set time limits for games and apps or block apps that you do not want them to use altogether.
With QuStodio, you can also track your child’s location. In an emergency, your child can send you panic alerts. Moreover, the application sends you a daily activity report via email as well so it is convenient for you.
In addition, it works on Kindle or Nook devices as well. QuStodio is available for free download with an in-app subscription purchase of US$55/year for up to 5 devices.
3. Norton Family (Android and iOS)
Norton Family allows you to supervise your child about which site they are visiting and block harmful or inappropriate sites. Similar to the other applications, it allows you to block the applications you do not want them to use. You can also see the top applications used by your children. In addition, you can see the terms your children are searching for on their devices to find out more about their interests and steer them towards the right direction.
It also allows you to set limits around their device usage, set time limits or schedule what times of the day or week your children can use their devices. You can also see when your children are connecting and what they are doing via email reports or the parent portal.
The application also allows you to keep an eye on your children’s SMS text conversations to prevent them from being bullied and set limited on whom they can text. You are also able to see which videos they are watching on their devices, or when they attempt to visit a blocked site.
You can also track the location of your child if you need to, especially for young children so that you know that they are safe.
Norton Family is available for free download with an in-app subscription purchase of S39, S$69 or S$129 for the standard, deluxe and premium package respectively.
4. OurPact (Android and iOS)
OurPact allows you to schedule screen time and manually block and grant access to internet and apps on your children’s devices, just like the other applications. Its App Rules function also lets you to keep tabs on all applications installed on your children’s devices. You can block specific applications or set different management rules for educational apps, versus distracting social media.
OurPact also encourages a less restrictive but encouraging way of allowing your children to instill discipline in their device usage. With the application, you can encourage responsibility by having your children budget screen time allowances throughout the day independently.
Similar to the Family Time application, you can keep tabs on your child’s location and safety, with the feature of creating geo-fences around specific locations to receive instant alerts when your children arrive at or leave any set zone - school, home, or the grandparent’s place.
You can also block texting during selected time periods so that it does not cause distractions during homework time or family meals.
Similar to the other applications, you can filter adult sexual content on all browsers installed on your children’s devices.
OurPact is available for free download with an in-app subscription purchase of US$1.99 or US$6.99 per month.
5. ScreenLimit (Android and iOS)
Similar to OurPact, ScreenLimit remotely block access to your children's devices. It also allows you to limit the screen time of your children and set schedules for them. A plus point of ScreenLimit is in its ability for you to turn screen time into a reward, to teach your children to earn screen time through good behaviour.
It also has an instant messaging feature where you can establish a clear dialogue with your children over screen usage. There will be instant messages to your children to let them know it is 5 minutes until dinner or that they need to get ready to go out. Children can also reply and let you know when chores have been completed.
ScreenLimit is available for free download with an in-app subscription purchase of £29.99/year or £75 one-time payment.
6. iOS12 Screen Time (iOS)
With an update of your iPhone software to iOS 12, you can enjoy the new Screen Time function by Apple. Set up your children’s phone with the “parent” option and you will be able to monitor their phone usage on your own device. Their App Limits Feature allows you to set a specific amount of time to be in an app on their phone, and a notification will display for them when a time limit is about to expire. You can also access your children’s activity report right from their own iOS devices to understand where your children spends their time and manage and set App Limits for them.
Similar to the previous applications, Screen Time also allows you to schedule a block of time to limit when your children’s iOS device cannot be used, such as at bedtime. You can also turn off notifications on their phones during bedtime.
iOS12 Screen Time is available for free with an iOS12 update.
7. Android Screen Time Limit (Android)
If you are using an android device, don’t fret - there is the Android Screen Time Limit. All you need to do is to create a google account for your child using Family Link, and you will be able to control their devices. With this on your device you can limit the screen time on your children’s devices. Like the iOS version, you can schedule the screen time for each day. There is also a bedtime function where they will not receive notifications when they are supposed to sleep.
Android Screen Time Limit is free with Android devices.
8. ESET Parental Control (Android)
ESET has the functions of app blocking, time limits on games, and basic reporting on web activity. The premium version allows you to block websites, track your children’s location, and provides parental messaging and more detailed reports about what they are doing. The parental message feature is clever as it allows you to send out a message that your children need to respond to before they can continue using their phone.
Eset Parental Control is available for free download with an in-app subscription purchase of US$29.99 per year for the premium package.
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