Most parents seeking parental control software options have kids in their home using multiple computers and devices, not just smartphphones. Even a young child may have access to a phone as well as a computer or tablet. They also are often using their parents personal computer from time to time for school projects or simply to print something.

If that isn’t enough to manage, your family members are connecting to the internet at school or at a friend’s house. With proper parental controls you can ensure the safety and security of your kids online. Otherwise, it’s difficult to know where to begin. It’s hard enough for a person who has some technical savvy, but what if you are technically challenged?

This article features options to protect kids on all devices using parental controls, not just apps but software solutions for PC’s and Macs as well.

Parental Control Software | App

Download Qustodio Parental Controls for Windows | Mac | Chromebook | Android | iPhone/iPad | Kindle

Scan QR Code on your mobiles devices to download compatible parental control app for free:

Schools: Download Online Student Safety and Content Filtering

In addition to iPhone and Android mobile devices, our recommended parental controls also works on Amazon mobile devices.  In fact, multiple devices within your home can be monitored and controlled.  Comprehensive solutions for complete online safety is a parental control app that Filters and Monitors all aspects of online activity for kids. It provides an easy to use app or access from and computer dashboard that gives parents peace of mind knowing their children are protected online.

When selecting a parental control programs for mobile devices as well as Windows and MAC computers you will need to find a software program that works on all devices. It’s not only an parental control app that works on mobile devices, it also provides monitoring, filtering and multiple control features on desktops and laptops at home, as well as in schools.

Let’s face it, a lack of technical knowledge is common for most of us. We live in an ever changing world where the optimal “kid safety zone” is a moving target. This is where parental control software becomes an essential tool in managing the various needs of any family, according to a range of ages and responsibility.

The good news is, effective parental controls allow you to help keep your family safe in one software download. At Safe Search Kids, we recommend parental internet filtering for PC and MAC users to meet the needs of any family large or small.

Access Free Downloads | Create Your FREE Parental Control Account

Parental Control is Internet Filtering

Internet filtering is certainly the first priority when thinking about protecting kids from harmful aspects of the internet. This is the primary focus of our search tools on Safe Search Kids, but we are only a single access search engine. Parent control software takes it one step further by filtering the entire internet, regardless of what search engine your kids may be using.

Quit simply, it allows you to completely control access to the internet including and blocking websites no matter what device is being used.  The level of restriction can be customized by age. After all, the places your 16 years old can go online is much different than your 7 year old. This includes allowing or limiting access on apps and social media, some platforms of which are only appropriate for older kids.  Some software platforms provide additional tools that allow you to combine parental controls with accountability.

Parental Control is Screen Time Management

Once you have the peace of mind of knowing all the bad areas of the internet are completely blocked on every device in your home, you can think about controlling the time your kids spend online. Imagine having peace of mind going to sleep at night knowing your teenager is not able to access the internet past 10 or 11 pm.

These controls can easily be set within the dashboard of your account. Likewise, you can restrict access from your 7 year old so that they can not get online after 8 pm, for example. This screen time management control is at your fingertips for any day of the week from the app or desktop dashboard.

Parental Control Software Monitors Apps

The dangers of the internet are not just through a website browser. With a software application you can also monitor what apps your kids are downloading. You can choose to also block apps like TikTok, Reddit or Discord that you don’t want your family to access at all. As with managing screen time, you can individually customize accessibility for every one in the house and on every one of their devices.

New apps are being developed and made available on the app store everyday. Whether the app is on an iPhone, Android or Kindle Fire device, you will be notified when a new app is downloaded and installed on any device.

• Calls and messages monitoring: Keep an eye out for suspicious contacts and distractions.
• Games and App Access: Allow access to the appropriate games and apps.

Parental Control is a Family Locator

Check that your kids have safely arrived at school. Within the parent dashboard, you can also track the location of each family member in real-time from your computer or smart phone. There’s no need to login to an iCloud account and no additional location tracking software is needed. The location tracking feature also allows you to check the past history of where your kids have been.

You can coincide their location with whether or not they’ve been online during that time. Let’s say you agree that it’s OK for your child to go to a friend’s house but you just want them to play. You don’t want them spending time surfing the web or going on social media. This is a way to check up on their activity while out of the house.

Alerts and Activity Reports

With all of these parental controls include features that work in the background to filter, block, and monitor online activity there is an additional feature that will help you keep track of things. Firstly, only need to initially set up controls and restrictions for each family member one time. From there it’s easy to fine tune controls as needed. 

Get instant alerts when suspicious photos or texts are detected on your child’s phone. Be notified when specific search terms are entered or when an app is being downloaded. What your kids are searching for online is also an insight into struggles they may be having, including bullying or feelings of alienation with friends or at school.

Safe Search Kids recommends software solutions, which include parental controls with dashboard access on mobile devices, computers and lap tops. Features can be applied on multiple platforms, including Android and iOS smart phones, Kindle Fire, Windows and Mac computers.

Teaching Internet Accountability and Responsibility

Monitoring and Controlling online activity should always be coupled with showing kids how to be responsible on their own. We all know putting kids in a cocoon will not prepare them properly for life in the read world. Setting up boundaries for kids is of course important, but some of those boundaries can be more lenient for older aged kids while allowing them to learn online responsibility. An internet blocking software can protect kids while they learn how to be responsible with the level of freedom you give them. The older they get and the more responsibly they use that freedom, the more trust we extend. 

Qustodo Care Plus

This feature begins with a welcome your of the parental dashboard by a live person in the Qustodio support staff.   You’ll continue to receive priority help through all stages of implementing and maintaining your parental controls, from personalized guidance during installation and setup, to remote technical support and regular check-ins.  The experts at Qustodio will be there to assist you throughout all channels of providing the right parental control settings for each one of your family members, including personalized customized device set up and tweaking as children grow, required a different level of monitoring.

Parental Controls answer these questions about your kids’ activities:

1. What exactly are my children doing online or on their mobile phones?

• Are they chatting with social network sites like Facebook, Snapchat?
• Are they visiting pornographic or other inappropriate sites?
• Are they being bombarded with inappropriate ads on pages for guns, cigarettes, drugs or other illegal activity?

2. How much overall time is really spent on a daily basis on their phone and computer talking to friends or other socializing?

Now Here are Some Facts That May Surprise You

1. One in 5 kids between 11-18 have been solicited online.
2. 60% of kids are exposed to porn before age 12.
3. Over 65% of kids have accidentally visited an inappropriate site online.
4. More than 25% of kids have been cyberbullied, but only 10% of these incidents were told to parents.

We trust our kids to do what is right, but there is so much filth lurking on all corners of the internet and as parents, we should be very concerned – even for the innocent child who is 100% aware of all the dangers involved, it is next to impossible for our children to be 100% protected. In addition to our lack of time, it is an impossible task to manually monitor our children’s online activities. The latest internet and mobile technology make it impossible with software working in the background.  This includes cyberbullying prevention made possible by monitoring.

Why Every Parent Should be Using Parental Controls on Every Device in their Home

Even with the most strict guidelines in place, it is nearly impossible to monitor your children’s activity online doing it manually. In the past several years, a new niche of software has been developed to help families monitor overall online and computer activity.

Parental Control Software is a must.

While there are several in this field, what they all have in common is that the specific monitoring is automated. This does not mean that you can rely on the system 100% of the time to monitor what your kids are doing – parental supervision is essential, whether they are using a laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile phone.

Parental Control Software provides an integrated time management and internet blocking & monitoring solution with the following key features:

• Restrict Internet & Computer Usage based on a customizable schedule or time limits.
• Monitors chatting/instant messaging based on a time limit or schedule.
• Access phone activity reports including what apps they install or uninstall.
• Award-winning automated filter of porn, illegal, vulgar and other inappropriate websites.
• Ability of parent to create White “Trusted” list and Black “Restricted” lists.
• Dynamic Content Blocker – blocks inappropriate banner ads on webpages.
• Download Complete Parental Control Software Solutions!

Qustodio works on all devices. 

If you only desire filtering and monitoring on iphone’s or Androids phones, download a parental control app that only works on mobile phones and tablets.

Are you planning to take your family on a camping vacation in nature? Going camping with your loved ones is one of the best outdoor activities that you can opt for. However, do you know what to pack to have a safe trip and family happy?

Here is the gear that I recommend for you.

Family camping checklist

Safety and well-being are first to consider when going outdoors. Which gear should you take along if you want to have a peaceful and satisfying journey? Kids can be hard to please but you can make happy faces even without bringing a bunch of their favorite toys and games to a camp.

The whole point of camping is to have fun and reconnect with nature. Fun activities include hiking and exploring the trails, bicycling, animal watching, reading, learning survival skills, cooking the family’s favorite meals over a campfire, and many more. To make the activities possible you will need to bring the next items to a trip.

Camping sleeping equipment

When it comes to sleeping stuff you need to consider bedding that will be comfortable for family members because the level of comfort will show the next morning. As you will be active through the day you need to have a bed like at home to have a proper rest.

Tent for spending the night

The camping tent you choose must be big enough for all of you; this is the first feature to consider. Ask yourself what kind of tent you want. Do you need a tent that will be appropriate for hot days or need a waterproof tent for camping in the rain?

Also pay attention to the tent’s hydrostatic head, breathability, brand, and other features that will determine the success of your trip.

Sleeping bed and accessories

When having a roof over your head is taken care of you need to think on/in what you will sleep. If you will choose a rainy and cold season I recommend using sleeping bags that are insulated or sleeping beds with blankets.

Sleeping pads, mats, or camping cots are also an option but for setting up the cots you will have to have enough space. Opt for an inflatable pillow and take pajamas for the kids to increase sleeping comfort.

Clothing and footwear

Clothes are one of the most important family camping essentials, or should I say a specific type of clothes. When packing clothes for each member make sure you pack enough to keep everybody satisfied. Pack extra underpants, T-shirts, and socks.

I recommend using cotton, fleece, or wool clothes under the waterproof ones while you hike and explore and when staying inside a tent. What you wear under the jacket is not so important as wearing a waterproof jacket or a coat when it rains and you are out there exploring with children.

If you will be dressed in cotton and rain will start to fall you won’t be protected and can get a cold or get sick as the water can soak you to the skin. Don’t let it happen as you might be canceling the journey due to unpreparedness.

Pack some gloves, scarfs, warm boots, and hats if you will be camping in wintertime. Regarding footwear, you should walk in comfortable shoes or boots that are waterproof. Break in the shoes at least a week before heading to the camp.

Cooking stuff and food

Keeping your party fed is also one of the things that should be taken care of. Where will you cook and what fuel will you use? As a camper, you can opt for a camping stove that runs on propane. These stoves are very practical to cook a meal or a cup of tea. The stove will need a small propane tank to function.

In what will you cook? The best thing is to buy a cookware set for outdoors that has foldable units. Make sure the set has all the items you need to prepare a meal and a hot drink. Don’t forget about eating utensils, a cutting board, knives, matches or a lighter, cups, and paper towels.

If you have time and will you can cook some make-ahead meals so you won’t need to spend much time cooking at a campsite. My girlfriend cooks rice, pasta and prepares meat at home, and packs the food in containers or plastic bags. Surprise your kids by hanging out over a campfire while making s’mores as this is an evergreen classic that makes everyone happy.

Additional Items for Camping

What about other stuff that is recommendable for a family camping?

A tent heater

If you are not camping on your summer vacation, it may get cool at night in the spring or fall.  Did you know that you can use a small and safe heater inside a tent? Outdoor companies make heaters on propane or electricity that will make the tent’s interior warmer and cozier. When getting yours make sure it is safe to use in a tent.

A tarp

Having a tarp with you can be a lifesaver. You can put it above the shelter to make your tent even more waterproof or put it under the tent so the rainwater won’t find its way to the tent.

This piece of outdoor gear is perfect for building a covered place for storing the gear you don’t want inside the tent, to cook, and dry clothes. It is a versatile item to use that I warmly recommend taking along.

Entertainment games

It is clever to take some fun and learning games that you all can play when you are bored or when rain is soaking the campground. Make sure that you take those that are meant for more players and leave the Game Boy at home as you want all of you to have fun together.

Flashlight

Without proper lighting, you won’t see at night and won’t be able to find things that you need. Take a flashlight or a headlamp with extra batteries so your kids won’t be scared when the dark comes and that you will be able to function in the dark.

You can also pack a lantern and candles along; just make sure the candles are placed on a tray so the wax won’t burn the tent’s floor.

Pack smart and enjoy your family time!

Camping packing things must include safety equipment and those that will make your outdoor stay fun and worthwhile. Consider my family camping list and also include your favorite items to have one of the most exciting vacations in nature with the people you love the most.

If you are planning to buy a tablet for your child this year you may also be exploring parental control options from Google, as well as available safety apps for iPads and Samsung Tablets. There are plenty of buzz words out there related on internet safety, security and parental monitoring.  It can be overwhelming especially for new parents who are giving a child their very first tablet.

We’ll do our best to break everything down for you. The last thing you need is to duplicate processes, while overlooking safety and security essentials, in an effort to make sure your new tablet or iPad kid safe.  We’ll explain the difference between reliable parental controls from external sources and those that may already have existing restrictions in place for safe game play.

Finally, we’ll review software or apps that may be redundant if you already have purchased that make other programs redundant.

Parental Control Monitoring

There are a myriad of third-party parental control apps.  Pricing varies and for the most part, they pretty much do the same thing.  However, ease of use is a key factor for parents when decided which application they use to monitoring their child’s activity online.   Key features you’ll want to ensure parental controls offer are as follows;

• Monitoring of texts and calls on social monitoring apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Kik.

• Monitoring of texts and calls on SMS and Messengers.

• GPS tracking so you can confirm where you kids are always.

• Geo fencing, which notifies you when your child leaves designated zone’s they are supposed to be.

• A porn blocker and content filter.

If you have both iPhones and Android devices being used by family members, your parental control app of choice should also be able to monitor both platforms and work on all devices, such as iPads, Samsung Tablets, and all smartphones in your home.

Parental Control Phones

New to the market are phones that have built-in parental controls. Monitoring features once found only by installing an app are offered within a parental control phone. Such is the case with a MMGuardian partnership with Samsung.

Parental Controls On Google

Firstly, if you are seeking a free parental control while searching Google, we have an app to recommend for that.  Apart from bookmarking this website for PC’s or Macs,  download our Google SafeSearch App for any tablet or mobile device.  Then, instruct your kids to only use it to search Google.  It provides the same strict filtering results as featured on the top of our website, but provided within the confines of an app.  You may want to remove/delete all other search apps such as Safari for iPad and Chrome so they are not accessible for use.

Google also offers Family Link.  It provides free tools to guide kids to good content, teach and set digital ground rules, monitor screen time and track location. for children within a certain age, there is also Kids Space, which is controlled by parents within Family Link. It’s a safe place for younger children to explore.

Parental Control Software and Parental Control Apps often refer to programs that block access to the entire web.  Our search app and Google’s Family Link do not block or monitor internet access. Google SafeSearch only filters the web while searching.  Our app and Family Link are free tools you can use to provide a certain level of parental control.

Greater restrictions are needed through a parental control software for those who want to stop older kids from taking steps to download harmful content. This may include re-downloading other search apps that you removed from the tablet.

Social Media Safety

Even if you have Google search covered, kids will also have access to outside content via their social media platforms.  Every parent should have an open and honest conversation about which social media websites are allowed in your home.  You can implement agreed upon guidelines as well, but this is where complete parental control apps can allow parents to see everything that is happening on any device the software is installed.

Parental controls with a paid subscription model will have a parent dashboard to view app downloads on all devices.  The dashboard will also allow you to limit screen time and block specific hours when users are allowed online, such as late in the evening or when you are not home.  And of course, all bad sites can be blocked not matter what method us used to find them, even if accidentally.

Kids Tablets with Parental Control

If you have younger kids and not looking for a fully functional device like iPad or a Samsung tablet, there are fun activity tablets that already come with their own parental controls built in.  These are very basic user-friendly tablets for kids that provide a safe environment for game downloads and internet search.

Schools who supply tablets for kids may also have internet filtering active through their own parental controls set for all users in the school.

Anti-Virus for Tablets

While parental control is all about protecting kids from accessing inappropriate websites, it does not block viruses.   If you are getting a tablet for younger kids that are going to be strictly using Google safe search, then the risk for infection from computer viruses is lower.  Generally, tablets are safer than PC computers but virus infection can still happen.

iPads are more secure because Apple’s operating system is more closed.  Samsung tablets are running on an Android platform, which is more open, and therefore more susceptible.  Just be aware that parental control or any other app designed to deliver safe search does not protect against viruses or malware.

Other than visiting infected website, email is the most common way a computer will get infected from a virus.   If your child is not running email, then the risk of infect is reduced even more.  If they are using a filtering search engine like ours, they are also less likely to end up on an infected website.  To clarify, parental control software does not stop virus infections.

Read more about options related to internet safety related to virus protection.  It’s another article where were break down the various buzz words related to internet safety and security.

Lets Review for Tablet Safety

• At the very least install our safe Google search app. It’s free.

• And it won’t hurt to consider Google’s Family Link app.  It provides additional tools to equip families to be safe online.

• For complete parental control, as well as tools to teach kinds online responsibility, look for a software program that can control different levels is internet access according to each individual family member.

• Install anti-virus software for email and consider anti malware software to safety against infected websites.

Online Gaming Security

If you have an avid gamer in the household using a PC or Macintosh computer, explore options for gamer security.  This stops users from turning off the Anti-Virus program they may have because it slows down their computer operating system.

Sleep is an important part of your child’s daily routine. To function well during the day, they need to get enough sleep. And most kids aren’t getting enough rest. Poor or inadequate sleep can cause problems in many areas of life. Difficulties with behavior and learning are often related to lack of sleep.

Kids who get enough sleep don’t tend to be moody, tired during the day, and have trouble staying focused in school or their jobs. They also may be irritable or quick to lose their tempers; some even become hyperactive or aggressive.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, children aged 3 to 5 need 10 to 13 hours, while kids aged 6 to 13 need at least 9 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Teenagers need at least 8 to 10 hours.  But the average American child gets less than eight hours of shut-eye each night.

The good news is that there are lots of ways you can help your child get more rest every night. Even young children can learn to say goodnight, quiet down, and fall asleep on their own.

Here are 9 tips that may help your child sleep better at night:

1. Establish a bedtime routine that works for your child’s schedule

While it’s fine to keep them busy, try not to push your kids too hard during that last half-hour before bedtime. Stop before they become overtired; that means they probably need more rest.   If they can brush their teeth and change into pajamas without too much grumbling, you’re right on schedule. But if arguing, complaints, or temper tantrums ensue, you’ll want to hold off until tomorrow morning. Whatever activity is part of their pre-bedtime routine needs to be relaxing and calm for a better night’s sleep.

The right time to go to sleep is when your child feels tired but not overtired. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour after lights out for kids’ brains and bodies to get the cue it’s time to shut down for the night. If you make them fall asleep too early in anticipation of their required wake-up time, they’ll just wake up earlier in the morning than necessary. This will also interrupt their normal sleeping pattern. So set an appropriate bedtime that allows them to be alert and awake during daylight hours, then let them fall into a deep sleep at night when darkness takes over every evening.

Keep consistent bedtimes and wake times. Establishing and sticking to a sleep schedule is important for healthy sleep habits. Kids need about 10 hours of sleep each day, and if they don’t get those 10 hours at roughly the same time every night and day, they can develop irregular sleeping patterns that make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep if your child misses their usual bedtime on weekends. It can throw off their internal clock and cause trouble falling asleep on Sunday night —and back into the early morning routine come Monday morning.

2. Make their bedroom sleep-friendly

Create a space in their bedroom where they feel both cozy and safe to encourage sleeping. It should be dark, cool, and quiet in there with no distractions.  Avoid bright lights, TV, or video games in the room, which can interfere with falling asleep. Dim the lights for between 30 minutes and an hour before your child goes to bed; this will help them relax and fall asleep better. A warm bath or shower followed by a story also helps kids wind down to get some sleep.

3. Keep it cool

A cooler room temperature is recommended; a slightly chilly 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is perfect for making your child sleepy. You could try using a fan to circulate air around the room, too, which may bring some needed relief from heat if you’re located in a warmer environment. Avoid hot temperatures as it makes it harder for children to fall asleep due to increased energy produced by their growing bodies, which conflict with circadian rhythms that make them feel tired during nighttime hours. That said, keeping your kid warm will help them stay cozy and content. So it’s important to use a comfy blanket that they can snuggle up in when trying to sleep at night.

4. During the day, get as much natural light as possible

 Encourage your youngster to get as much natural light as possible during the day, particularly in the morning. The hormone melatonin is suppressed by bright light. This helps your kid stay awake and alert during the day while inducing drowsiness before bedtime.

5. Let kids unwind with books

Reading is an excellent way to relax at night. But you don’t have to let reading be the only activity your child does before bedtime; other quiet activities are also fine. Avoid stimulating activities or exercises associated with playing video games or watching television. Also, avoid looking at any screens up to an hour before bedtime because of the associated blue light that can interfere with melatonin production, which tells our brains it’s time for sleep.

6. Limit liquids, and watch out for medication and alcohol

Your kid should limit their liquid intake in the evening hours, not only just before bedtime but during dinner as well. Drinking too much fluid makes kids wake up frequently during the night, increasing their chances of dehydration which will steal precious sleep from them.

Avoid caffeine at night. While some parents believe that coffee and tea can perk kids up, it’s one of the worst things you can give your child before bedtime because caffeine is a stimulant, and too much caffeine before bed can make it hard for them to fall asleep.

Remember that even over-the-counter and prescription medications, including some herbal remedies, can cause sleep disruptions. Alcohol is a depressant that will put your child to sleep, but it reduces their quality of rest and decreases the depth of their REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycles.  Just like adults, children can also experience the effects of too much alcohol before bedtime, including dehydration and hangover symptoms such as headache or nausea coming morning.

7. Make sure your kids are getting enough exercise

Of course, not right before bedtime or soon before they go to bed because you don’t want them to be too energized. But regular physical activity helps them get the necessary amount of sleep each night by helping tire their bodies out earlier in the day.   Just make sure it’s an appropriate level of exertion for your child’s age, though. If it feels like hard work, you should scale back until they become more conditioned to physical activity over time.

8. Avoid big meals

Kids should not have a big meal either right before bedtime or within 3 hours of going to sleep because it can make them uncomfortable and interfere with their ability to get quality rest. Eating too close to bedtime causes heartburn, acid reflux, and discomfort, which can disturb your child’s natural sleeping patterns.

9. Help kids relax at night

When your kids start to feel drowsy, then take that as your cue that they’re ready for lights out. You don’t want to let them fall asleep while engaged in an activity like watching television or playing on their devices, though; this will only make it harder for them the next day when you try to extricate them from these tech-induced comas.

There are so many ways you can comfort your little one without resorting to screens just before bedtime.  From massage to reading books together, doing calming activities together will let your child know that it’s almost time for sleep—and help them relax into slumber once that familiar head hits the pillow.

Takeaway

Sleeping well is a challenge for us all, but it’s something that we need to do to keep our bodies healthy and functioning properly. Kids face special challenges when it comes to getting the essential 8 hours of sleep each night because they’re still growing and developing during their most restful periods. So if you can encourage your children to follow some or all of these helpful tips, they will be able to get the sleep they need at night, so they have more energy during the day to learn new things and be active with friends.

If you find yourself still having trouble getting your little one to hit the hay on time, consider making an appointment with your family doctor, who can help determine if there’s an underlying medical condition or sleeping disorder causing all the late nights. While most kids will fall asleep as they get older, it’s important to be aware of learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders that might cause them to have trouble with early bedtimes or staying in bed.

Author Bio

Jennifer is the Sleeping products expert and merchandise testers. She features a vast selection of experiences to effort from when creating the standard information our visitors come to seek out. She handles the daily operations of the site, and you’ll also see her in plenty of reviews, from mattresses to travel pillow and bed pillow reviews. She’s adamant about sleep health and knows just how important it’s to our well-being. Jenifer reports, writes, and edits sleep health and sleep industry news on  Sleeping Park. She will be found reading or traveling when she gets leisure time.