2024 Safe Tech Purchases for CyberMonday
Practical stuff
If you’re like me, you wait for BlackFriday/CyberMonday not only to buy holiday gifts but also to buy all the other stuff you’ve been meaning to purchase. If you’ve been thinking purchasing some tech safety stuff– here are a few ideas.
Best Practices Helpers
If you’re looking to tighten up the digital practices in your house, here are few things that can help.
Creating a Tech Center
I highly recommend families create a little tech center in their homes. A designated place where all the tech gets check-in at a certain time each evening. It helps make sure everything gets charged and keeps the cords corralled but it also gives you a visual way to make sure devices are not being smuggled into bedrooms. -
If you need to go farther and lock them up. Here is one with a lock.
Removing your phone from your nightstand
I also recommend avoiding using your phone as your alarm clock. That blue light near your head can wreak havoc on your sleep. I love this battery operated alarm clock.
Screen time management
Sometimes when the time controls on your kid’s device do not work, you just need an old school solution. I love this apple timer - because its cute and its loud.
Another idea is the Brick. This is a great tool to help with time management and it does not look like an apple. Its a 3D printed device that temporarily removes distracting apps (and their notifications) from your phone. - leaving only the apps you choose. Parents use it to help kids with smartphone time management.. I use it personally to help me take social media breaks. Buy one here
3rd Party Parental Control Apps
Other ways to help with time management are apps like Bark and Qustodio. BARK APP allows you to manage apps, monitor content, set screen time, track location across your child's devices. QUSTODIO allows you to filter content, monitor activity, set screentime, track location across your child's devices.
Devices
A Device to track your child’s whereabouts
Many families I know put airtags in their children's backpacks to keep an eye on their location or to make sure they don’t lose their backpacks. If you’ve been meaning to do this for a while, here is your reminder. Buy some Airtags here.
Two Way Communication if you have little kids but don’t want to give a watch
I recently learned about a cool, new communication device for younger kids for parents who don't want to give a phone or a smartwatch. Its called the BoT. It has two way voicemail + GPS tracking. I think the design is pretty cool and so did my son. Buy yours here.
First Phones for Kids
I often get asked whether I gave my kids smartphones for Middle School (I didn’t). And if not, what I did give. The answer is the Pinwheel. This parent managed phone has no internet, no app store, you can wait to turn on group chat, you can monitor chat, and you add specific apps when you decide they’re ready (rather than fielding the requests from your child). We are very happy with it. Buy yours here.
A few other dumbphones that I would also recommend
The Bark and the Gabb are both also great parent managed phones. Use promo code DIGITALMOM for an extra discount at Gabb.
The Wisephone- This one has no parental controls but also no internet and no apps. The design is really nice. Many adults I know are also buying this as a second phone to help manage their own app overload. Use Promo Code DIGITALMOM for $50 off the Wisephone II which ships in time for the holidays. Buy it here.
If you missed my Gift Guide for Kids or my Gift Guide for Grown Ups you can find them here and here.