Summer break! With kids out of school, you can finally spend a lot more time together as a family. It’s also the best time for kids to unwind from their school work and play with friends.
But, like most parents, you’re probably still as overscheduled as in the rest of the year. So for most of their time at home, you have to find a great way to keep your kids entertained.
We’ve selected a few age-appropriate apps that can help with that. And when the family goes on the road for a quick summer getaway, they won’t have to miss a thing.
Here’s our list of the 13 top child-friendly apps to keep your kids entertained for the summer.
Summer Learning Apps
Summers are for fun and more so for kids. What better way for your kids to have fun besides learning?
Kids are natural fast learners compared to adults. And summertime full of fun learning activities can be the single best thing to keep your kids entertained this summer.
We’ve suggested apps with gamified learning content, from science and math to reading:
Apps for the Road
According to TripAdvisor statistics over two-thirds of Americans—precisely 67%—are planning to travel this summer, a 17% increase from those who traveled in spring this year. Most kids get bored on road trips without the right tools to keep them entertained.
So, here are fun apps for kids to have when they go on the road:
Gameplay Apps
Video games have since established themselves as a staple among younger generations. But, as a parent, you must monitor the kind of games your kids interact with, and the work is made a lot simpler with ESRB’s game ratings.
There are generally seven ratings:
- EC (Early Childhood) suitable for ages three and older,
- E for kids over age 6.
- E10+ for kids above 10.
- T-rated games are suitable for teens over age 13.
- M & AO-rated games are for mature and adult players only, as they are generally considered to contain strong showings of violence.
- RP is for games with pending ratings.
Some highly-rated and age-appropriate gameplay choices for your kids are:
Apps to get outdoorsy
Kids love a family game. Even as a parent, some time out in nature will do you a lot of good. These apps will encourage your kids to step out into the backyard and enjoy fun activities that allow them to discover more creative ways to spend their summer.
Some of these apps are:
Taking Charge of Your Kids’ Entertainment Options
Any parent would be concerned about how to help their kids choose the best age-appropriate apps.
Most US parents think more positively of how digital technology impacts child learning and creativity. However, they still worry about video games and how to protect their kids from malicious websites and harmful content in the media.
While you’re away at work and the kids spend all day with the sitter or the grandparents, you want to be sure of their digital health.
So, here are a few ways you can control what your kids are exposed to on the internet:
Parental control features on your internet/Wi-Fi services
The most stress-free way to regulate your kid’s access to the internet is to set up control features on your home WiFi. Most internet providers give you basic parental control over all devices connected to your home network.
But you can ask for more. Choose the right internet service provider who cares about uninterrupted access and safety.
Beyond regulating screen time or monitoring app access, ensure your kids aren’t the target of malicious programs and viruses that can infect your network. Use smart network protection tools like GVTC’s ProtectIQ to secure all devices on your home network. Learn more about ProtectIQ.
Parental control features on their devices
Entertainment apps and digital services are age-restricted, requiring users to confirm their age before using the services. However, that’s barely enough to assure you of your kids’ safety.
Luckily, it’s relatively easy to set up parental control features on your kids’ devices to restrict access to only the right apps for them.
Regardless of the device, here’s a short guide on setting up parental control features on it.
Parental control features on Windows OS
- In the Windows search bar, type and click on Family Options under Settings. Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Set up a child account and choose Content Restrictions.
- From here, you can toggle the Apps, Games & Media option, as well as the “Web Browsing” or “Needs Adult Approval,” and follow the command prompts to set up restrictions in games, apps, and media, web contents, and in-app purchases.
Parental control for Mac OS
- From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
- Select Parental Controls.
- Choose the user account that you want to filter on the left side of the window. Make sure your child’s account has managed access and is not an admin.
- Select Enable Parental Controls.
- Click the Content tab.
- Choose one of the three modes under website restrictions (unrestricted, automatic, whitelist).
Parental control for iPhones
- Go to Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap continue, then select Use Screen Time Passcode to create a passcode. Re-enter to confirm.
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions and set up parental controls across frequently used services like web content, store purchases, and content rating.
Parental control for Android phones
- Access Android parental control feature on Google Play Store. Set control preferences as you desire and ensure your child can only use appropriate apps and services.
Wrapping It Up
Now that you know what top apps to choose for your kids, auto-parenting becomes a lot easier. You no longer have to worry about what your kids do online. You can take control and look out for them while they’re having fun online.
To give you perspective, your kids begin to enjoy fun activities on the internet and unlock the amazing world of learning. And the best part, you won’t have to worry about their safety with the right management tools on your hands.
GVTC provides residential security, internet, and TV services to the greater South and Central Texas areas. Our full-package Premium WiFi with ExperienceIQ enhances parental control, allowing you to regulate your kids’ actions on the web at the click of a button.
