My teens are so into their social media accounts and you’ll see them buried in their phones, the tablet or my laptop! As a mom and one who’s very aware of the horrors and dangers online I searched for a way to be able to have some awareness and control over what they do when they’re on the web. I found the perfect app and if you want to keep track of your teen the Dinnertime Plus App is your best bet.
For now it’s only available on Android but I’m keeping tabs for their Apple release (hopefully they have one). It’s incredibly user-friendly and has the functions I’ve been looking for. If you’re a parent and an iPhone user, no worries. You can still keep tabs using your iPhone as the parental phone. They aren’t able to implement the monitoring and control features for iPad or iPhone (if this is your child’s device) because of the restrictive way in which iOS is designed.
The set up was a bit tricky for me because I would be keeping track using my iPhone which is not sim enabled but I was able to figure a way around it. Just comment below if you need help with it.
Once you have installed the app on both phones (don’t forget to enable the Device Admin Mode so your teen cannot delete the app), you can name the device, I’ve named mine Kianna Lenovo. You’re allowed up to 2 children’s devices. You can opt to have up to 5 devices when you make a one time in-app purchase of $3.99.
The app features include Dinner Time, Bed Time and Take a Break control options. I have been using the Bed Time and Take a Break options mostly. Before I had this app I would have to collect their phones before going to sleep. Now they can have their phones but they won’t be able to use it to chat or go on their social media accounts making sure they go to sleep.
I’ve set Bed Time hours (9:30pm to 6:00am) and what happens is the phone “takes a break” during the hours you have input. During the day, I can make their phones “take a break” if they need to do their homework or chores.
Another feature is their Monitor option which you get in real time (need wifi for this). It lets me know if their phone is online or offline, the last several apps they used and the times they used them and a premium feature Reports is also available wherein you get detailed device usage reporting. In the time limit option you can set the time limit of minutes or hours per day they can use their phone. When your child opens the app on their phone that is what they will see, the time left they have to use the apps on their phone.
Now, you might be asking, when their phone “takes a break” can they still text or call? They can still make calls and receive calls as the app identifies the Phone feature on all phones to make sure it keeps running. Under the Apps tab you can also choose the apps that run even when their phone is on “take a break”.
Download Dinnertime Plus!
Dinnertime Plus for Parents and Kids on ANDROID
Dinnertime Plus for Parents on iPHONE
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Thanks for this! I also need this badly esp that my 5th grader is now active on FB and now into having fb groups with her classmates.
This is a fantastic find. It’s a good monitoring app to keep children from over using their phones to help them focus on their studies and minimize unnecessary social media interactions. Will the app notify if it was uninstalled?
Hi Richie B, there is an option to activate Device Admin Mode and they will not be able to uninstall it. If it’s not activated you will be alerted on your phone though. It even alerts you when the device has been turned off or on.
Oh how interesting! I don’t have a daughter but the world has become such a scary place that I can’t help but worry about them too.
This is cool, I think I need this also in the future 🙂 thank you for sharing!
OMG – this is such a good app find!! 🙂
I will need this pero mga in 6 – 7 years pa. Hehehe!! 🙂
This is a very helpful app. I was initially worried if this’d work on an iPhone but good thing that the parental device can be one! My son uses a Samsung tab so he’s going nowhere this time. Haha. Thanks a bunch!
That’s a very cool app! I don’t need it yet cause my kids are still young but I’m sure that’s really handy.
Wow im sure im gonna need this in the future! Great app!
this is a really cool tracking app.. And it’s making me a little emo to think pretty soon i’ll be needing one of those. for now, i’d like to say i’m still in control but getting a lil vigilant with my toddler’s youtube usage haha.. coz there are actually videos of disneyprincesses acting like they were drunk.. Definitely not a good influence.
That’s a cool app. This would be very helpful for parents having trouble with their teens who’s so into social media.
Nice app I will definitely need this in the future.
Xoxo
MrsMartinez
Oh, this seems like a great app! My sister always goes home late, so I’ll probably install this into her phone.
I still have a few more years before I will need this app for my son as he’s only 9 years old and his school doesn’t allow their students to bring cell phones to school. While he already has a cell phone he uses for playing games, he’s allowed to use it only whenever we’re around, so for now, he’s safe. I’ll keep this app in mind, though, fur future reference. Thanks!
i have a similar app installed on my iphone called OurPact 🙂
And it’s true what they say that there IS an app for almost everything! But this is one of the best ones ah, buti may nakaisip nito. Thanks for sharing