Safe Search Kids - Education, Parenting, Internet Safety for All

Do you ever worry about what your kids are doing on their phones? With all of the dangers that lurk online, it’s natural for parents to want to keep their children safe. One way to do this is by using free parental control app for iPhone or Android. In this blog post, we will review the best phone tracker apps!

Key Benefits of Best Phone Tracker Apps For Parents

Today’s parental control software offers more features than ever before. Here are some key benefits of the best phone tracker apps that can help you keep your kids safe and secure:

• The ability to set up boundaries for your child’s device usage. For example, you can set a daily limit on app usage or restrict certain apps altogether.

• The ability to monitor your child’s phone usage. You can see who they’re calling, what apps they’re using, and how much time they’re spending on their phone.

• The ability to remotely lock child’s iPhone or Android device. This can be useful if they lose their phone or if you want to limit their screen time.

• The ability to track your child’s location at all times. This can be especially helpful if they are out with friends or at a crowded event.

The 5 Best Phone Tracker Apps for Parents on the Market

There’s no such thing as being too cautious when it comes to protecting your kids. But with so many phone tracker apps on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you to monitor child’s iPhone. Here are our top five picks for the best phone tracker apps for parents:

iSharing

iSharing is the highest-rated family location sharing app on the market, trusted by over 60 million users worldwide. Built specifically around real-time GPS tracking and family safety, it stands out from the competition with its combination of powerful features, ease of use, and near-perfect app store ratings.

Compatibility: Android and iOS (Platinum plan also includes web/browser access)

Key features:

• Real-time location sharing with Google/Apple Maps and Street View
• Place Alerts — get notified when your child arrives at or leaves key locations like home, school, or a friend’s house
• Location history going back up to one year (Platinum plan)
• SOS/Panic Alert — your child taps one button to alert you with their location; paid plans automatically record surrounding audio
• Driving Reports showing speed, sudden braking, and phone use while driving, with real-time high-speed alerts
• Battery and inactivity alerts so you always know their phone is on and with them
• Find My Device feature to help locate a lost or stolen phone
• Unlimited in-app messaging within your family circle

Pricing:

• Free — basic real-time location, one Place Alert, standard SOS, unlimited messaging
• Silver — 5 Place Alerts, 7-day location history, battery & inactivity alerts, SOS with audio
• Gold — unlimited Place Alerts, 90-day history & Street View, driving reports & alerts, family plan sharing
• Platinum — 1-year location & driving history, web/desktop access, priority support

Main pros:

• Trusted by 60M+ users worldwide
• Free plan available with core features
• Excellent teen driving safety tools
• SOS with audio recording for emergencies

Main cons:

• Most advanced features (long location history, driving alerts, Street View) require a paid plan

Google Family Link

Google Family Link is an excellent app for parents with kids of all ages. It lets you see which apps your child is using and how much time they’re spending on each one. You can also set limits on screen time and remotely lock your kids iPhone or Android devices if necessary.

Compatibility: Android and iOS

Main pros:

• Lets you see which apps your child is using
• Set limits on screen time
• Remotely lock the device

Main cons:

• Tracking feature is unavailable for older versions of iOS

Find360

Find360 is a family location-sharing app with an easy-to-use interface and many advanced features. It lets you create circles with your family members and check their real-time locations. You can also set customized notifications for activities or events, such as kids arriving home or visiting a particular place.

Compatibility: Android and iOS

Main Pros:

• Share location in real-time
• View unlimited location history
• All features are free to use

OurPact

OurPact is an excellent choice for parents who want to monitor kids iPhone or Android smartphones. With this app, you can block certain apps and websites, set up schedules for when devices can be used, and even track your child’s location.

Compatibility: Android, iOS

Main pros:

• More control over apps and websites
• Can set up schedules
• Tracks location

Main cons:

• Free version has limited features

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Kaspersky is a well-known name in the world of antivirus protection, and their Kaspersky Safe Kids app is the best free parental control app for iPhone. With this app, you can set limits on screen time, track your child’s location, and even see what they’re searching for online.

Compatibility: Android, iOs, Windows

Main pros:

• Well-known and trusted brand
• Set limits on screen time
• Track location
• See online searches

Main cons:

• Some features require a premium subscription

Qustodio

Qustodio is an Android and iPhone parental control app designed to help you keep track of your child’s online activity. With Qustodio, you can see what your child is searching for online, block specific websites and apps, and set limits on screen time.

Compatibility: Android, iOs, Windows, Mac

Main pros:

• See online searches
• Block websites and apps
• Set limits on screen time
• Monitor social media activity

Main cons:

• Some users report bugs

How to Pick the Best Phone Tracker Apps For Your Needs

Before choosing an iPhone kids tracker app or similar software for Android, it is essential to understand how they work and what features are vital for you. Here are some main tips:

• First and foremost, the app must be undetectable on the target device.
• It is also crucial that the app offers real-time tracking.
• Another key feature to look for is the ability to lock the device if it goes missing remotely.
• Finally, you’ll want to make sure the app you choose has a good customer support team if you run into any problems.

Conclusion

There is a lot of excellent Android and iPhone for kids tracking software out there that can help parents keep their children safe and secure. Each of these apps has its own unique set of features, so be sure to read through them all before deciding. And remember, no matter which app you choose, the most important thing is that you use it to keep your kids safe.

Helping children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) successfully study at home can be incredibly challenging. This is because children with ADHD have trouble focusing for long periods, aren’t keen on details, and don’t want to engage in activities that take a lot of mental effort.

Studying requires all three of these things, and children diagnosed with ADHD aren’t exempt from studying because of their difficulties. So, we must find ways to make study sessions at home more enjoyable and productive for their unique needs.

Here are eight of those ways below:

Create a Designated Study Space

For a child with ADHD to successfully study at home, a designated study space is a must. A designated study room or corner for your children can help them be more productive. It can also help their brain know it’s time to focus on their studies every time they enter this space.

Decorate their designated study space with calming colors. Adopt a minimalist style. Be sure there’s room for exercise and play. Finally, kid-proof the space and make it as safe as possible.

When you use this study space with your children, be mindful of how you use your time in it.

Manage Time Attentively

Managing time attentively is a secret weapon in helping children with ADHD study effectively. Break up the time your child spends studying in a way that supports their unique needs.

For example, incorporate regular breaks in every session to ensure your children don’t get overwhelmed with the mental effort it takes to study. You could also introduce time management techniques to them, like the Pomodoro method, to limit distractions and procrastination.

Also, incorporating play into studying can help children with ADHD successfully study at home.

Incorporate Play into Studying

One of the best things you can do in a study session with a child with ADHD is incorporate elements of play into it. Children with ADHD need ways to release energy, especially during study time.

Making time for physical exercise, outdoor play, and creative activities can improve your children’s focus and help them control their emotions and impulses.

Take breaks to play during every study session. Also, incorporate fun, hands-on activities that help your kids learn the topic their studying.

Ask Teachers for Advice

Tapping your children’s teachers for advice on how to help them study and learn better is a brilliant move. Your children spend a lot of time with their teachers throughout the week. So, they likely know a lot about how your children learn best with ADHD.

Set up meetings with your children’s teachers to gain insight into how to use what’s working at school and home. Ask them specific questions about how to help your child retain information better and what kind of environment might be best for them to study in at home.

Enlist the Help of a Tutor

Not only is asking teachers for advice wise but so is enlisting the help of a tutor who primarily works with children with ADHD.

You can reach out to your child’s school and ask for information on tutors in the area. You can also search for tutors specializing in working with students with ADHD on the internet. Interview potential matches and introduce them to your child during these meetings to see how they connect.

You may have to cycle through a few tutors before finding the right one, but it’s worth the work.

Explore Using Digital Tools

Digital tools can also positively influence your children’s study sessions because they can help keep them focused and engaged.

For example, you can gamify studying to stimulate their brains and keep the process exciting. You can use projectors or your television to amplify a lesson. You can also use different apps to make studying more manageable.

Whatever digital tools you use to help your children with ADHD study, ensure they’re kid-friendly and easy to use.

Create a Circle of Support

Creating a circle of support comprised of other parents with children with ADHD can help you gather ideas for how to make studying better for your children at home. You’ll also have people who genuinely understand what you’re going through to lean on when times get tough.

It might also be a good idea to add a behavior specialist or counselor to your circle of support. A study on ADHD revealed that “about 6 out of 10 children had received some type of behavioral treatment or skills training.”

Behavioral therapists can help you find studying methods that work for your children’s particular needs. They can also help your children manage the frustrations and emotional triggers people living with ADHD often face.

Be Inherently Positive

Your circle of support can also help you become inherently positive, especially in situations when parents also are dealing with ADHD. Positive thinking and communication are integral to successful studying at home with children with ADHD.

The last thing you want to do is be frustrated or angry with a child navigating ADHD. Being that way can make them feel hopeless and inadequate. Instead, learn to lift them up at all times. Work on your mindset. And grow your patience as well.

Conclusion

It isn’t easy helping children with ADHD successfully study at home, but it’s essential if you want them to thrive. So, use the tips above to create a positive, productive study environment at home for your children to give them the best chance at excelling in their education despite being diagnosed with ADHD.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

A staycation can be as entertaining for kids as going out of town for a holiday, and it just takes a bit of creativity. Kids can easily be amused and have the gifted ability to enjoy almost anything that comes their way. And the good thing is there are different ways you can make their staycation memorable without breaking the bank.

Definition: a staycation is a vacation doing enjoyable activities at home or near by.

To help you get started, here are some summer staycation ideas for kids:

1. Garden Pool Party

A garden pool can be any pool that you make in your backyard. And you don’t necessarily have to have a big one for the kids to enjoy the swimming experience. You can purchase a mobile or inflatable kiddie pool and fill it up with water. The kids will surely enjoy splashing in the pool regardless of the size.

Alternatively, there are many ways the kids can enjoy the backyard beside the garden pool. You can read more about how you can turn your backyard into one of their favorite staycation spaces.

2. Outdoor Picnic

One of the activities most, if not all, kids love is eating. You can create food baskets, fill them with the kids’ favorite snacks, and host an outdoor picnic.  You could go to a local park or entertain guests with a simple set up of lawn chairs and a serving table.  Consider building a backyard kitchen with a built-in grill using RTA Outdoor Living’s guide on how to choose the perfect grill for your outdoor space.

Aside from the delicious treats, you can also be more creative by organizing different outdoor games.  You can also make it theme based featuring your kids’ favorite music group or cartoon character.  It doesn’t take much to organize a family picnic and build outdoor memories on a regular basis.

3. Camping

Camping can either be in the backyard or indoors, depending on the weather and whether you have sufficient backyard space. You can pitch a tent and place fairy lights across the yard if you have backyard space for an exciting nighttime experience. You can also create an outdoor fire and roast marshmallows while sharing stories and listening to music.

You can also camp indoors if you have space to pitch mini tents. You can also make a tent using mattresses and sheets. Adding fairy lights can also work, making the indoor camping experience different from switching on the regular lights.

If the kids are involved in the whole process of recreating a camping experience, they may enjoy it more as they are proud of having taken part in the setting up. Together you can also create a camping theme, and each person will have to dress accordingly or get into the allocated characters.

4. Create A Snack Bar

There are some days when you won’t be able to organize an action-packed day during the staycation for different reasons. And in some cases, you may also find that the kids might not always be in the mood to be active either and may just wish to surf the internet instead.

In such cases, why not create a snack bar where the kids pick out different foods throughout the day while they enjoy lounging around? Try to include healthy foods and research ways to make the foods appealing enough for them to eat instead of serving chips and chocolates regularly.

5. Movie Night

Who can say no to a classic movie night? The kids can take turns picking out a movie to watch on a particular night during the staycation. And to make it more fun, you can redecorate and reorganize your living room space to look like an actual cinema. You can even appoint the kids to design movie theatre signs using their arts and crafts skills.

In addition, the kids can also take part in preparing the snacks for the movie. You can also arrange for the kids to invite their friends for the movie night and organize with their parents. Doing so allows them to create memories with their friends and enhance their socialization skills.

6. Bike Riding

Suppose you have bicycles at home. In such a case, organizing a bike ride around the neighborhood can be another activity to explore. This could also be an opportunity to teach the kids who don’t know how to cycle yet.

By cycling around your neighborhood, the kids may discover areas they may not be aware of, which aren’t so apparent when riding in a car. This can also encourage their adventurous side. Moreover, it’s also a good activity that could boost their physical fitness and well-being.

7. A Drive Around Town

You can also drive with the kids around town, particularly to places they may have otherwise not frequented, perhaps the park or a local diner. By visiting new spaces, they get to learn about other people and the ways of life outside their comfort zone, and what’s familiar to them.

Wrapping Up

A staycation can be as memorable as a holiday getaway, especially if you involve the kids in planning and setting up the activities. And hopefully, with this list of some of the best activities you can do, you and your kids can have a wonderful staycation to remember in years to come.

Reading is a skill developed through the activities and experiences of daily life. Many children learn to read by themselves. However, some children need reading help from their parents or other adults. The following are ten ways to engage elementary school students in reading.

Engaging Elementary Students with Reading

Reading can do more than build academic skills, it can also shape a child’s character. When stories highlight honesty, kindness, or courage, they help young readers develop values as well as vocabulary. Let’s look at a few ways to inspire both a love of reading and a love of learning.

1. Begin with an Interesting Fact About the Topic

One way to engage elementary students in reading is to begin the lesson with an interesting fact about the topic. For example, if you are teaching about dinosaurs, you might start by talking about a fact related to dinosaurs.

You might talk about how long they lived or how they looked. You may also want to talk about other facts that relate to dinosaurs.

2. Start with a Picture

Another way of engaging elementary students in reading is by starting with a picture. For example, if you teach about farm animals, draw a picture of each animal and have your students identify it and write its name on their papers and the board.

As you go through your lesson plan for the day, have each student add one more picture to their documents or an additional word or phrase to the board.

3. Have Students Clap or Give a Sound as They Read

Another way of doing this is by having students clap or give a sound as they read. For example, you might say, “Clap your hands if you know what this word means.” Or, you might have them say “Good” as they read, or you might have them make noises when they are reading. This is a fun way to engage students in reading, and it helps to develop their listening skills as well.

4. Read Aloud and Do Story Problems

This is also a good way to engage elementary students in reading. For example, you might say, “Let’s read the story about the cow, Henry.” Then have your students read the story aloud and do some of the problems that follow it. You can also have them read the book or chapter and do some of the same problems at home.

5. Have Students Identify a Book Character

This is an excellent way to engage students in reading. A book character is a fictional person who appears in the book. Students are asked to identify the character in various books. This is an excellent way to engage students in reading.

6. Have Students Identify Story Elements

Story elements are parts of stories that help tell the story and make it interesting for readers. These include characters, setting, plot, theme, and subplots. By identifying these story elements, students can begin to understand how stories work and how they affect their reading.

7. Help Students Identify Story Questions

Students can get involved with a reading by asking questions about what will happen next during their read-aloud or class discussions about books they have read. For example, you might offer a selection of picture books about perseverance to your younger students and have a discussion about the themes and how the pictures made them feel. This is a good way to engage students in reading and it helps them to become more independent readers.

8. Have Students Share What They Have Learned

Many children love to share what they have learned and are eager to tell others about their experiences. At the beginning of the school day, students share what they have learned from the day before.

This is a great way to get students to articulate and put into their own words what they already know. It also helps them focus and remember important things that happened during the day.

9. Set Reading Goals for Your Children

You might read the same books to your child every day, or read different books each day. You might ask your child to read a certain number of pages a day, or a certain number of pages. The goal should be reasonable, and it should be challenging enough so that children can do it.

10. Have Students Create Reading Logs

This can be a fun way for students to record their daily reading activities. Students can make a log with the title, author, and book title. They can also include the number of pages read and how many times they read each day.

Closing Thought

As children grow, they will soon be enticed by social media and various forms of online entertainment.  Therefore, it is vitally important to engage students with reading as early as possible.  If you are working with children in a classroom, you should know that they are more than capable of reading and being enthusiastic about it. You can help them by creating an environment where they can feel safe, supported, and encouraged to read. Teachers should provide students with the various resources needed to be successful readers.

If you have younger kids in your family that are not yet in school.  Discover why preschool is good for your child.