Back-to-school tech: Apps and gadgets to monitor your kid

August 8, 2024

By Kim Komando

Parents everywhere are thrilled it’s back-to-school time. How can you keep the kids focused after a screen-filled summer, but also keep them safe? It’s a process, I know. For starters, get my free Kids’ Tech Contract. 

For kiddos up to 10 years old 

Your main goals are to make sure they don’t see awful things that will stick with them and to prevent them from being exposed to creeps online. Their physical location is important to track, too.

• Angel in disguise: AngelSense is a GPS tracker that provides real-time updates on your kid’s activity. Features include two-way voice, location history and alerts for changes in their routine.
• Stuck on you: The Jiobit is like an AirTag for kids that clips onto their clothing or backpack. Use it for live location tracking and get notifications when they arrive and leave certain spots.
• Linking up: Google’s Family Link app includes web monitoring, time supervision and location tracking. Bonus: You can set bedtimes for devices and internet use, too.
• A close eye: Qustodio monitors online activity and screen time, blocks inappropriate content, and tracks their physical location.
• Clocking in: If your kid’s in an emergency, the TickTalk 4 smartwatch has an SOS feature that alerts you right away. It also has GPS tracking, video calling and messaging.
• Time for safety: The Verizon GizmoWatch allows you to set up to 10 trusted contacts so little ones can easily get in touch. It also includes GPS, voice calls and texts.

Tweens ages 10 to 13

Now that your kid’s older, they’re probably exploring more online, talking to other kids and interested in content you might not want them watching.

• Barking up the right tree: The Bark Phone monitors text messages, emails and over 30 different social networks for signs of cyberbullying, adult content and depression. Good for teens, too.
• I screen, you screen: Is your tween too tied to screens? FamilyTime lets you monitor their app usage, set screen time limits and track their location.
• Nanny 911: Net Nanny provides internet filtering, screen time management and social media monitoring.
• Strong aura: Did you catch our article about predators lurking on Roblox? Use the Aura app to monitor online gameplay, block harmful content and receive predator threat alerts.

Teens 14 and older

Driving, dating, high school — oh, my! The teen years are challenging for sure.

• Guardians of the (internet) galaxy: MMGuardian offers a phone and app to monitor text messages and social media and block the apps you choose.
• Safe and sound: TeenSafe provides call logs and text message monitoring to keep you informed, and it includes GPS tracking, too.
• Pencil it in: Need an app to control how much time your teens spend online and what they can access? OurPact is a screen time management and monitoring app that allows parents to block internet access and schedule device-free times.

There’s a more advanced tracking option, too. mSpy includes GPS tracking, geofencing and monitoring of social media activity. The app runs undetected in the background of your kid’s device, but I find honesty is the best policy. Most kids are savvy enough to find this stuff.

✏️ Next, stay sharp 

First, let’s look at some tech for kids and parents. Don’t worry, I’ll cover more essential tools, too.

An Apple a day: The Apple Watch provides GPS tracking, SOS emergency calling and fall detection. If your kid has one, teach them how to use SOS. It pains me to say this, but it’s much safer to hit a button on a watch than make a phone call in situations like a school shooting. Pro tip: You may need a band made for smaller wrists, depending on your child’s age.

Up in the air: Attach an AirTag (21% off!) to your child’s backpack or keychain. You can use the Find My network to locate lost stuff … or a kid who isn’t home on time.

Are you an Android family? The Galaxy Watch is a great Apple alternative. It tracks location and health data and integrates phone features, like calling and texting.

Lost and found: Tile (28% off) is a handy-dandy tracker tag that works like an AirTag but with any phone. Clip it to a backpack or clothing and use the companion app to track their location.

Monitoring matters

Your kid won’t be thrilled about you playing Big Brother, but if you don’t, who will? When no one is paying attention, pedophiles and sickos step in.

• Explain, don’t force: With Ian, I told him why it was important to me to know where he was and who he was with.
• Hold your boundaries: Your kid might whine and beg to go over their screen time, download apps or surf without monitoring. This whole “permissive parenting” trend where kids say what’s OK is bull. Kids need rules. You need to enforce them.
• Check in now and then: For most older kids, knowing you could watch is enough of a deterrent. I always knew the PIN to Ian’s phone. After school, I made him put his phone in this fake Bible box in the kitchen. I never set a combination, but you could.

I have to tell you this: As Ian got older, I started to share links to stories of kids meeting strangers online, getting into trouble and worse. My dad did that to me when there was a car accident and the teens weren’t wearing seat belts.

Like Ian, I’d say, “That would never happen to me.” But it made me think and it did with Ian, too. That’s why I share news about kids in this newsletter — it’s for you to read, know and share.

No public pics

Parents are all over social media, posting pics of their kid’s first day of school. Nope. It’s too easy for some creep to learn that little Julia is a third grader at Brown Elementary. They can clone your voice, call her out of school for a dentist appointment and pick her up. Keep those pics in your camera roll.

Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead

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