Yes, you read that right, a parental control app that my boys hate and this is a GOOD thing. Really it is! Something that my children do not like and I am going to rave about it…… Want to know more?
We have been trialing Kidslox for over a month now and thought it was high time to share some more in-depth thoughts about it, rather than just our initial thoughts.
Kidslox is an innovative remote access parent control app for your kids tablets and phones (both apple and android) and you know what it really works. We have tried a number and for us, this is the only one that came anywhere near being what we needed.
My boys are 10 and 11 now and have always managed to get past previous parental control apps and never been bothered with them. This last month they have begged me to removed Kislox from our family iPad, which means one thing, it really works.
What kidslox can do:
App blocking – Kidslox can app block specific apps you have on the tablet. I love this as it means as a parent, I have the choice wich apps the boys can have access too. It isn’t a wide sweeping age lead block and leaves room for parental opinion. Kidslox understands that I want to parent my boys and gives me that choice.
Content Blocking – This works by restricting what can be seen when browsing the internet. This means I can choose what I want the boys to see, so I can make sure they have no access to gambling sites or the App Store and definitely no access to in-app purchases.
Set schedules – Do you have specific times that you want the kids to NOT have access to their device? Well, you can set unique daily schedules. This is perfect for our no screen time after 6pm rule.
Turn off access remotely – This is one fo the things the boys really hate and I love. If they are acting out or being disrespectfully then I used to have to physically remove the device from them and turn it off or hide it. Now I can just remove access remotely and pow the device stops working for them. Totally transformational.
Set daily time limits – This is a new feature and one we have been waiting for. In addition to having a time when they have to come off all electronics, they also have a time limit per day and I am delighted to say that Kidslox have been listening to users and added the ability to limit use per day. On Apple your child can access any apps and features allowed to them in Child Mode, whenever they want, but when their time’s up, Lockdown mode kicks in on the device and that’s it for the day. They have also gone one further on android devices and you can even set Daily Limits for use of individual apps and app categories! So if you want to allow your child 2 hours total screen time for the day, but only half an hour on social networks.
So you can see why I love it and why the boys do not. it helps me easily reinforce our screen time rules.
Kidlox is great. it helps me enforce my parenting choices with ease and less argument. It gives me the ability to have a conversation with the boys about why we make the choices we do with screen time and also take their opinions into it too. That is why I like it. It helps me parent better. I would never be happy giving the boys a device and just allowing them free rein and access to everything and as they are getting older I actually feel stronger about the fact that I need to keep on top of this.
If you are getting the kids a tablet or phone this year then make sure you add Kidslox. Why not try it on your kids devices? You get a free 14 day trial. You can download it from the App store here.
Want to see what someone with younger children through, then check out What the Readhead Said thought about Kidslox.
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I love reading about how much your children hate the parental control – I’m glad I’ve started using Kidslox now so when our two are older we will still love it and they can hate the restriction too! 🙂
This really does look like a useful app, and love your point that if the kids hate it, it must be good! x
I think this is a really good idea. I love the rules too x
I love the sound of this app and I am going to mention it to my husband. Both out children have tablets and they use them only when in the room with us but this would give added security and peace of mind!
oh that looks amazing – especially the remote bit for turning it off! My kids would totally hate it too – my youngest once had a screaming fit at two am for youtube…. 😉
I have literally been thinking recently, someone needs to invent an app like this!! Brilliant!
Happy Christmas! xx
This is a great idea. We have a kids ipad but sometimes they borrow an adult one and I worry about them accessing stuff they should not see
Anything that makes parenting easier is a good thing 😉
This isn’t something I would use personally but I can totally see why it would be brilliant for some families x x x
It’s great how you have been able to make this app work to support your parenting choices. The ability to turn it off remotely sounds ideal.
This sounds SO good. My husband has the parent controls all set up on all his niece and nephews PCs and it drives them mental. Even the wifi turns off at a certain time. He can see what they’ve been surfing too. Sadly doesn’t work on their iPods!
The feature about remotely being able to disable is reason enough on its own!
This sounds like a really good idea. I like the idea of the rules, I am terrible and remembering and enforcing them in this house.
I so need to get this app! Screen time can run away with us and I struggle to get the boys off, plus I would like more control over what they do online x
What a great idea – mine would be on tablets all day if I let them and I know it is only going to get harder has they get older
We’ve been looking into the options here and this looks like a good one! Love your rules too, I really think it is time for parents to stop being wishy washy and take back control for this generation.
What a good idea, I like to be able to control the time my kids spend on screens, they are always arguing for five minutes more.