Parents often have incredible demands on their time. They have to go out to work, juggle the general pressures of life, cook nutritious meals, be good parents and so on. Any app or device that can reduce stress levels and help with daily tasks is welcome. See 7 genius ways technology can make parenting easier below.
Digital devices are often blamed for the breakdown of the modern family, however, this is when it is used in the wrong way. When we talk about technology that can help you, we do not mean sitting baby in front of a TV all day to keep them entertained. There are actually so many new gadgets on the market that can help you as a parent rather than babysit for you. Take a look at these seven genius ways that technology can make your parenting job so much easier.
Tools for Parents
The following tools will help save your sanity while ensuring your kids are safe and happy:
1. Phone Calendar
When you have kids, their lives tend to be an endless whirl of parties, activities and classes you need to take them to and pick them up from. You often need to plan out your days with military precision. Rather than jotting everything down on your paper calendar, type it up into your phone and sync it with everyone else who helps care for your children so they’re kept in the loop. It goes without saying that setting reminders for every task comes highly recommended!
2. GPS
Another parental tool you should never be without is GPS. With this handy tool whenever your children ask if they’re there yet, you can always give them a perfect report on how long it’ll take to get to your destination! You’ll also never get lost again. In the event that you do take a wrong turn, it can be righted within seconds, getting you all to where you need to go when you need to get there. Perfect!
3. Baby Monitor
If you feel a little uncertain about leaving your children being with the new babysitter or you just want some peace of mind while they will be left with extended family during the day, invest in a baby monitor. Today’s models often come with wireless cameras that link to an app you can download to your smartphone. You can then keep an eye on your family from wherever you are.
4. Search Engines
You may be wondering what Google has to do with your kids. Well, if they a re a little under the weather you can have a quick search online to check out their symptoms. Do keep in mind that internet research in no way replaces a visit to the doctor if your little ones are suffering from more than a cough.
Tools for Children
Kids love to immerse themselves in new technology. These three ideas are ones they’ll love:
5. Video and Audio Books
There are so many free video and audio resources online. In fact, with a little searching, you can find stories that will captivate them for hours. These are particularly useful during long, boring car journeys! Of course, you need to ensure that they are consuming the right content and that they don’t have excessive screen time. [READ: How to monitor your child’s screen time]
6. Video Calling
No matter where you are, you can always video call your children to let them know you’re thinking of them. This is also a very effective way to stay in the loop with close friends and family members abroad. You can use FaceTime, Skype or any other platform of your choosing. This is also a lovely way to connect with your kids when you’re working late.
7. Educational Apps
You can download kid-centred educational apps to your tablet or phone. These make learning fun and there are activities that junior will want to come back to again and again.
So, you see, employing technology in your parenting is a positive and helpful choice. It also might give you a little more free time!
Author’s Bio: Clare Rhodes is part of the community team at Next Day PC. Clare enjoys staying on top of the latest tech trends and sharing how new tech can positively impact people’s lives.
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