Technology | Parent Spy

Technology Out Wits Sneaky Kids, or Does It?

These days there is plenty of technology to track kids. It would seem that it would be very easy to keep track of sneaky kids who might be looking to get into some mischief. The question is whether this technology works or not. On many leves it definitely works, but in more ways than one, it may not be such a good idea. As a parent, you have to figure all of that out.

The Pros of Technology Tracking Kids

The pros are as old as parenthood. Parents want to know where their kids are and that they’re safe. Therefore, GPS tracking on cell phones works good when the phone is on and the device has a clear shot at the sky. If a kid is supposed to keep the phone on, and it gets turned off, it’s going to be tough to explain that to Mom.

As for software that tracks computer use, the many incidents involving molesters and bullying are the best reason to do this. The Internet is a dangerous place. Parents can even tell the kids they’re tracking computer usage.

The Cons of Tracking Kids with Technology

The biggest hurdle to jump is “trust.” You have to find the balance between spying and caring. Your kid won’t grow up responsibly if he isn’t give the chance to try. Again, make sure he knows it’s for his safety.

Where GPS tracking is concerned, there are still some problems with accuracy. That could scare a parent and get a kid in unfair trouble. The old fashioned phone call to check in is still the best tracking tool for kids.

Filed Under: Parenting, Technology Tagged With: Mobile phone, Technology, Vehicle tracking system

Monitoring Your Teen’s Cell Phone Use

Image by Meneer De Braker (Akbar2) via Flickr

When your teen gets on the phone, who knows what they’re saying? While you can’t tap their phones to find out if they’re planning anything nefarious, you can check out who they’re calling and how long they’re spending on the phone. If they have minutes to be tended to, you can check out all of those things on your bill. Overall, monitoring your teen’s cell phone use is a fairly easy thing to do.

While your teen is downloading unlimited music, they can be talking to their friends about anything. While this can lead to a lot of possible problems, the real problems happen when they go over their minutes. In cases like that, an unlimited plan can be useful. However, you might want to actually limit the number of texts your teen can send and make them pay for any they send or look at over and above that number. While it might seem cruel, it is a good way to get your teen to think about the future and how to use resources.

Of course, making your teen actually pay can become a serious issue. After all, if he or she refuses to pay, you have to cancel their cell phone plan as a punishment, which can be a serious hindrance to a person in this day and age. “I’ll call you” has replaced almost any sort of real planning, as people tend to think only about right now and keeping in nearly constant contact through technology. But having consequences for inappropriate cell phone usage teaches powerful lessons that every teen needs to know.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Cell Phone, Mobile phone, Science and Technology

Keeping A Track Of Your Kid’s Phone

Cell phones have become a basic necessity these days. Kids demand cell phones because of peer pressure. Flaunting latest cell phones is considered to be a style statement and a hip thing. However as a parent one needs to be ultra aware about the way your kid is using his or her cell phone. It is important to check that your kid is not receiving or sending any lewd messages.

Companies understand this innate need of tracking your teenager’s activities without their knowledge. Hence technology has developed various devices and softwares that can be installed in your kids’ phone without their knowledge. There are softwares that help you to track your teen’s calls and messages. You can also screen their calls and messages. There are certain other features that you can activate via the spy softwares. Some advanced softwares send you a copy of the message that your teen receives and sends. It also gives a report about frequently dialed numbers and the conversation timings. These all features help you to be vigilant about your kid’s behavior without letting them know. These devices are a boon to parents. Existence of these devices has taken off the worry from the parents head about their kid’s messaging and call taking trends.

It is good idea to handle the issue of inappropriate messages and calls with your teen very tactfully. You do not want to be loggerheads with your teen and spoil your relationship at the same time; you may not want to ignore such behavior. It is important to nip such behavior in the bud, so that it does not snowball into something big. It is important to be vigilant all the times.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Adolescence, Cell Phone, Mobile phone

Keep Track of Your Teen with GPS

Image via Wikipedia

Like any parent who has teens, I regularly wonder where mine are. Now that they’re in college, it’s gotten worse. I generally get to see my kids for a few minutes in the morning, and then don’t see them again until late at night. Between those times, their days are filled with school, work and friends.

I think I’ve done a good job raising my kids. They are mostly obedient, usually call to tell me where they are and where they’re going, and actually do their homework. But that doesn’t keep me from wondering if they’re always where they say they are. I’m not so old that I don’t remember how much we used to try and fool our parents when I was a teen.

A new application of GPS technology can put an end to this worry. These units, which mount on your kid’s car, regularly update you as to their location. With the online application that is part of the service, you can easily program locations that your child is supposed to be at, and locations where they aren’t supposed to be. The moment they cross one of those “fences” you hear about it. As an added bonus, you get notified every time your child exceeds the speed limit. Ha, who needs cops giving our tickets, when parents are watching?

While I’m sure there’s going to be a great outcry, from the youth of our country, about how these devices are stealing their liberty, I think it’s a great idea. Where did our youth get the idea that liberty meant hiding things from their parents anyway? As responsible parents, we should know what our children are doing, where they are going, and who they are with. These devices give us the opportunity to keep tabs on our kids, so we can help them avoid many of the pitfalls of growing up.’

To take advantage of this service requires buying the GPS device, which is installed in a hidden location on the car, and pay a monthly fee. While that might seem a little steep, what’s your peace of mind worth?

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Adolescence, Global Positioning System, Parent

GPS Tracking Systems for Kids

I remember when the GPS system was first launched. It really wasn’t all that many years ago. With it, one who had the right kind of device could never get lost. Their GPS would tell them where they were, down to a few yards. Of course, those first units were a little expensive, rather bulky, and somewhat limited by today’s standards.

Who would have known back then what would be done with that technology. Now, anyone can place a “bug” on somebody, and track them from here to Timbuktu. While most of us don’t have much need to play James Bond, and track the bad guy across the world, we do have one thing, which is highly valuable, that we need to keep track of… our kids.

Child kidnapping for profit and other reasons is still going on in the world today. There is even a market for kidnapped white children, to be sold in other countries. While the odds are against your child becoming a victim of this type of crime, the possibility does exist.

One of the newest applications of GPS technology is specifically for keeping track of our kids. With it, a device which can be as small as a postage stamp, regularly calculates your child’s position, down to a few yards, and transmits it to the GPS service company which provided the device. You can access this information at any time to see where your kids are. Are they late coming home from school? Check on the Internet, and find that your child stopped off at a friend’s house. More importantly, if they don’t come home, the police can track on the same device, and see where your child is.

Slightly more sophisticated devices include a panic button for your child to use, in order to call for help. Both you and the service company will be instantly informed when your child hits that panic button, and informed of where they are. The company immediately contacts the police, giving them an exact location on your child. That’s enough to give many parents peace of mind.

Filed Under: Parenting, Technology Tagged With: Global Positioning System, GPS, James Bond

Chores for Children

According to the Center for Effective Parenting, “chores are beneficial for children—even very young ones.” Yes experts say that even children as young as 9 months to a year should be learning chores. In addition to teaching children of all ages about cooperation and responsibility, chores teach life skills, values, commitment and responsibility.

The key, according to experts, is to gear the chores to the specific age or developmental stage, and to lower parental expectations to what a child can accomplish. In other words, set your child up to succeed. So what chores are appropriate for which age groups? Here’s a general list.

Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers (ages 18 months to 5 years old.) At this age children love to help and to feel they are doing the same things their parents are doing. Some easy chores would be:

Help make their bed.
Pick up their toys.
Take dirty clothes to the hamper.
Feed Pets
Bringing in groceries and helping put them away. (Make sure that bags are not too heavy or two bulky for little arms to handle.)
Setting and clearing the table.

School age children. (Ages 6-8) Be sure to tie the additional chores to additional rewards. Think about adding these chores:

Vacuum and mop the floors.
Take out the trash
Fold the laundry and put it away.

Pre-teens (Ages 9-12). Allow children of this age to choose which chores to add. Some chores to add are:

Clean the bathroom.
Wash dishes.
Use the washer and dryer.

Teens (Ages 13 to 17). While teens can handle almost any domestic chore, they also have hectic schedules. Be sure the chores you assign don’t overload your teen. Teens can:

Make grocery lists
Prepare simple meals
Clean out refrigerator

Children who grow up doing chores, grow into individuals who know that everyone has to contribute to keep a household going. That’s the goal.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Child

How to Choose Internet Filtering Software

Every school child is on the internet these days. Overall, that is a good thing. However, there are dangerous people cruising the internet preying on innocent children. Fortunately, we now have a variety of software programs that will filter the websites and emails your child is able to see. With so many on the market, it is hard to decide which one will best fit your needs. Here are a couple of ways to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Software Features

Look for software that has all or most of the following features:

Blocks objectionable websites. The best software lets the parent grant access to some sites on an individual basis.
Email filters. The software will keep objectionable mail from hitting your child’s email box.
Pop-up blockers. Blockers keep out provocative pop-ups.
Chat room monitoring. Allows IM and some chat room discussions, but monitors for objectionable chat rooms and chat.
Ability to customize. The best software will allow you to customize all the filters, will offer frequent upgrades to keep up with changing technology, and will give parents alerts of dangerous situations in real time.

Easy to Use and Easy to Install Software

No matter how many great features the filtering software has, it is useless and a waste of money if it is not easy to use. Most software companies will allow you to try out a sample version of the software before purchasing. This is the best way to determine whether the software is easy for you to use and whether you are going to have problems installing and maintaining the software.

Internet filtering software is a great tool to help parents monitor a child’s internet usage and the sites they are visiting. However, software alone is not enough. True safety comes when parents are present and engaged with their child on the computer. Educating a child about what is and isn’t acceptable is the surest way to keep them safe on any computer they use.

Filed Under: Security, Technology Tagged With: Content-control software, Internet access

Keep Track of Your Kids in a Crowd

When going to a theme park, concert, fair or other crowded event it can be challenging to keep an eye on all of your children. Using some simple steps and creativity you can keep track of your kids and enjoy the event at the same time.

All About Colors

Have every member of your family wear the same color clothing. Go for something bold like red which will stand out. If your children are older and will not agree to wear matching outfits, make everyone wear their own bright and distinct color such as hot pink or yellow. Avoid dark colors like black or navy blue. People wearing these color clothes can easily be lost in a sea of people.

Use the Buddy System

If you are at a fair and not everyone in the family wants to do the same things, use the buddy system. Make sure a parent or older teen is always the buddy of a younger child. Make sure each pair of buddies has a cell phone to contact the other members of the family incase of an emergency. Pick a meeting spot and a time when the whole family should meet back up.

Link Up

When going on a trip with younger children have everyone hold hands. You can purchase a backpack for your younger kids that has a string that you can hold onto. It’s almost like a leash for children.

Have a Plan for if Someone Does Get Lost

Accidents do happen. Make sure that your family has a plan for if someone does get lost. Pick a prominent landmark and tell all of your kids to report there if they go missing from the group. This is the first place you should check for your missing child. Also, upon entry of the event point out to your children where the security guard booth, ticket booth and other areas where event workers are.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Child, Family

Child Tracking Devices

Image via Wikipedia

It can happen in a blink of an eyelash. One minute your child is playing quietly on the blanket next to you in the park, and the next moment the child is gone. Whether the child has just wandered off or something more sinister has happened, a parent’s heart races with panic. Today technology has provided a number of tools to track children and alert parents.

Child tracking devices fall into two broad categories: limited distance devices and GPS devices. Both have their practical applications.

Limited Distance Devices

Limited distance devices operate, as the title implies, within a specific distance range. I small tag is attached to the child’s clothing or shoes, and when the child goes beyond the distance the parent sets on the monitor, the parent is alerted.

On example of the limited distance tracking devices is the Mommy I’m Here device which alerts the parent when the child wanders more than 30 feet from the parent. The tag is a cute little teddy bear which can be attached to the child’s shoe or clothing. The parental monitor is small enough to attach to a key ring. What is really attractive is the price: under $50.

GPS Tracking Devices

GPS tracking devices are a good choice for at risk children and families with child custody issues. The GPS device is quite small and depending on the device, is attached to the child’s watch, backpack, or clothing. Most devices also have a panic button that allows the child to alert the parent if they feel threatened.

Some GPS devices hold their charge for 24 hours, while others will hold their charge for up to two weeks. GPS devices are more expensive the limited distance devices. Prices begin at about $150 and can run as high as $800.

It is tough to put a price on peace of mind, particularly when it comes to the safety of your child. Every family situation is different. But it is good to know that there are tools available to handle any child tracking situation that may arise.

Filed Under: Protection, Security, Technology Tagged With: Global Positioning System, GPS

Protect Your Child Online

The internet can be a dangerous place for kids. Protect your child from seeing adult oriented content and talking to potential predators online.

Set Up Your Web Browser

Set up your web browser using parental control settings so that your computer can not access x-rated websites. This protects curious teens who may be tempted to search for something inappropriate as well as innocent younger children who may type in a keyword while looking up a school project that accidentally leads to mature results.

Talk to Your Children

Talk to your children about the danger of instant messaging with strangers and adding people they don’t know on social networks. Think of it as the modern day equivalent of your parents telling you not to walk up to a stranger’s car. Teach them how adult predators can pose as teens and kids online. Tell them to never meet anyone off of the internet no matter how old the person says that they are. Even meeting someone with a group of friends can still be dangerous.

Monitor

Have your computer in an open family room or den. Only allow younger children to use the computer when you are home. Sit next to your child from time to time to see what sites they visit and how computer savvy they are. If you have older teens who you believe can handle private computer usage, you should still make them give you a list of all their passwords so that you can periodically monitor what they are doing. Also, become their friend on any social networking website that they join. There should be nothing that they are posting that they should be ashamed for you to see.

Be in the Know

Stay on top of the latest trends. Things are constantly changing. Just because your teen may be into websites such as Facebook or MySpace one day, there can be a whole new crop of sites popping up soon. Be in the know and make sure your teen doesn’t have a sexy or inappropriate profile on a website that you don’t know about.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Facebook, MySpace