Dude, no one loved that Jimmy Fallon Saved by the Bell throw-back more than me–go Zack Morris! But this trip down Memory Lane sparked a few reflections–most notably, how dramatically technology has changed and become such a significant part of our kids’ lives.
How is a parent to responsibly handle this shift? Check the savvy new OurPact app–helpful, smart, and a teensy more modern than what Zack was rocking. I’ll let OurPact introduce themselves below; I’m thrilled to have a company committed to helping us parenting navigate the challenge of this modern, sadly Zack Morris-lest world…
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Zack Morris and the gang recently made an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon Show, a throwback meant to transport us to the early 1990’s, when Saved by the Bell was a favorite for all of us Gen Y’ers. You know what else made an appearance in that all-too-brief 8-minute clip? Zack’s old school cell phone; the one that included no screen and was bigger (and probably ten times heavier) than the Kindles most people read their books off of today.
It was a stark reminder of how much technology has changed in just the last 20 years. While most of us grew up with an ancient computer shared by the family in the living room, kids today are equipped with iPads and devices of their own from a young age. And often, they take full advantage of the unlimited freedom they are afforded with those devices.
In so many ways, that technology has been extremely beneficial to the way we manage our lives. Staying connected is no longer a burden or chore anymore; it is a simple part of day-to-day life. Your kids can Skype with Grandma and Grandpa from thousands of miles away, and you can work from home whenever one of your little ones gets sick with the flu. Plus, our phones are now good for so much more than just making calls.
But there are drawbacks to that technology as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no more than 2 hours of screen time a day for kids. But most American kids are extending far beyond that limit, averaging 50 hours a week, which doesn’t count the screen time they are getting in school. You might be wondering what the problem with that is. After all, we want our kids to be proficient with technology so that they can grow to be successful in this ever-changing landscape, right? Well, of course we do. But we also know that moderation is key with screen time, and that too much exposure has actually been linked to a slew of negative consequences; including increases in obesity, as well as behavioral and sleep problems.
Which means that as parents, our job duties have extended to now also helping our children navigate the use of this technology responsibly. The problem is that up to this point, there haven’t been a lot of great tools for helping you to do that. Most parents have been flying blind in the management of their children’s tech time.
Not anymore, though.
Recently released by ParentsWare, OurPact is a new app that provides the tools you need to safely and effectively manage your child’s tech use. It provides you the tools you need to regain control over the technology in your home.
Download the app, and you will be able to schedule internet and app use for your kids directly from your own iPhone. Want them to focus on schoolwork between the hours of 5 and 7? You make their screens completely inaccessible – which is great, because while previous apps have only allowed you to control internet usage, this gives you control over everything.
You can set a daily time limit on the screen time they do have, block internet and apps with just at a touch, and start a dialogue with your kids about the importance of managing their own screen time responsibly.
Everything about this new app is intuitive and built with the average parent in mind. Best of all? It’s free.
So why not take control back in your own home? OurPact is here to help!
****Thanks to OurPact for sponsoring this post about their helpful app!
My opinion of it’s benefit is 100% my own.****
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Paige says
I’ve been looking everywhere for a tool like this to use on my kids. Thank you!
Meredith says
Yay! Hope it helps, Paige!