Being a parent is hard – every parent will know that. But in 2024, there’s no doubt that the parenting process has become slightly easier, mainly due to our smartphones.
Whether you like or hate the technology boom over the last two decades, it’s likely you own one of the latest smartphones, and this is an invaluable tool for your parenting journey.
Whether it’s used to stay connected with family members, manage your schedules, or ensure your child’s safety, your phone is an all-in-one device that can help you juggle your responsibilities. With this in mind, we wanted to talk through the 5 apps we think every parent needs, helping you to make the most out of your phone and let it assist you in the right way.
Prodigy Math
With over 50 million students around the world – and used by nearly three million parents – the Prodigy math app is a revelation that has transformed the way kids interact with math. With a wide range of content, players of this RPG are asked to compete in math duels and work their way through the world, with elements borrowed from other popular RPGs such as Pokemon. This makes it a must-have app if you want to help your child form a good relationship with math, working to eliminate any future math anxiety and build their problem-solving skills in a fun, entertaining way.
YouTube Kids
Every parent needs a break once in a while, and a common way to do this is by giving your child your phone and letting them watch videos for half an hour. But if this is something you find yourself doing, it’s important to ensure they are on a safe streaming site that is tailored specifically to kids. The YouTube off-shoot, YouTube Kids, is an age-appropriate platform that provides a safe browsing experience, giving you parental controls to monitor what your kids watch.
Chore Monster
Getting your kids to do chores is difficult, and motivating kids to want to do chores is even harder. With Chore Monster, however, children can earn points for completing tasks, which they can then exchange for rewards – making household chores feel more like a game than a burden.
Google Keep
One of the hardest things about being a parent is keeping track of everything! This is why apps like Google Keep have become so popular in recent years, as it allows for versatile note-taking to let you quickly jot down ideas, to-do lists, grocery items, and reminders. It also syncs across all devices, ensuring you have access to these notes at home, at work, or on the go. An alternative to this is also Cozi Family Organiser, which helps you manage family schedules by syncing appointments, school events, and meal planning all in one place.
Life360
Lastly, one of the most important apps to download as a parent would have to be Life360, which allows you to track the location of your family members in real time. This can be especially useful when your kids are not yet grown teenagers but are old enough to travel to school themselves. With the Life360 app, you can ensure your kids arrive safely at their destination, with alerts given to you when a family member enters or leaves a location like school or home. If you find yourself worrying often about their safety, this can be the perfect tool to keep your mind at ease and your child safe.