This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
We all have the best intentions when it comes to entertaining the kids — outdoor activities, board games, sports classes, wood whittling — but it doesn't always turn out that way. Screens are just too handy and easy. Not to mention parents are generally exhausted from the reality of the working week and, well, parenting.
Indeed, it's only a matter of time before you'll turn to technology to save the day. Nothing captures the attention of a child like a desktop, tablet, laptop, or mobile, and there's nothing you can do about it. It's time to just accept it. And let's be honest: Modern kids have never known a world without the Internet and screens.
The problem, of course, is that the internet is full of danger for kids, including explicit materials, bullying, and cyber criminals. Fortunately, there is a solution in the form of parental control software. If that sound a bit new and scary, here's a quick explainer and a selection of the best options to keep your kids safe.
What is parental control software?
In the most basic terms, it's a software that helps you to manage all the devices your kids use — as well as the way they use them. It's all about making sure the online world is a safe space for your kids to explore. Though you should chat with your littles ones about the importance of safety before you let them loose online or implement any software.
How does parental control software work?
Parental control software lets you keep tabs your child's phone, tablet, or computer via an app. You can monitor internet searches and browsing history, as well as block inappropriate apps (or block distracting apps during homework hours) or even limit device usage all together. It's less invasive than physically going through their phone or computer. And when kids know that their activity is being watched or managed, they're more likely to practice better cyber safety habits.
What's a safe amount of screen time for kids?
It's easy to get sucked into scaremongering over kids' screen time. It's not the end of the world if kids have more screens than parents would like, and parents should give themselves a break when it comes to relieving the stress of parenting with a little screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests very limited screen time for children under two years old, an hour a day between the ages of two and five, and two hours between the ages of five and eight. Beyond that it's important to talk to your child about responsible screen use. Problems associated with too much screen time include weight gain, sleep problems, and general inactivity.
What is geofencing?
Parental control software can also help keep tabs on your kid when they're not at home. Though most have GPS and some sort of basic "Where's my child?" function, only a select few software options offer geofencing, which is a big help for parents juggling the schedules of multiple children.
This location-based service lets you set up virtual boundaries around where a child should or shouldn't be, as well as a specific time that the child should be there. Let's say that your child goes straight from school to a sports practice three times a week. The geofencing feature will monitor their phone's location and will alert you if your child doesn't show up to the scheduled area on time. Teenagers may even enjoy not being bombarded with "Where are you?" texts. Geofencing can also be used to monitor web time when your child is in a designated location. For instance, some parents may disable games or social media during school.
What is the best parental control software?
There are plenty of parental control software options out there for you to consider, with something for every family. We have researched everything on offer and lined up a selection of the very best services, including software from big names like Kaspersky, Qustodio, and Norton. Basically, we've done all the hard work for you.
These are the best parental control software options for 2024.
