It’s every parents’ worst nightmare that something scary will happen to their child. It’s a fear that at times seems suffocating until I step back and remind myself that it’s very unlikely anything will happen to my daughter. But I still worry. So when I was contacted by the following companies who’ve designed products that help turn our mobile phones into safety tools, I was relieved to learn there were safety apps like this available! The following safety apps will give parents some peace of mind and keep children safe.

Mobile Kids & bSafe

Bipper Kids was created by Norwegian mom, Siljie Vallestads. Vallestads wanted an app that would help monitor her child’s phone interactions, as well as keep tabs on her whereabouts when she wasn’t home. She wasn’t comfortable giving her daughter a phone without some oversight, due to all the potential issues involved, such as bullying, sexting, costly content, contact with strangers and more.

She researched the market but couldn’t find what she was looking for, so she took matters into her own hands and created the company Bipper Kids. Their MobileKids safety app syncs to both parent and child’s phones and allows parents a sneak peak into what their child is doing with the device. Through the app, you can monitor their mobile usage, define limits on whom they talk to and how much time they spend on their phone, and locate them whenever you want via GPS.

Additionally, the bSafe app offers several safety mechanisms for mobile phones. Features include:

• The Ultimate SOS Alarm. When you press the big red button, it notifies your selected safety network of guardians. It will even give the GPS of your location and send them a video from your phone.

• Once you trigger the alarm, your live GPS trace, time, date and duration of alarm are immediately uploaded and stored which could serve as evidence later if needed.

• The Follow Me feature allows your pre-selected friends or family to monitor you via GPS while you walk alone but would like someone to make sure you are safe.

• It comes with an Automatic Alarm so if you are not back by a certain time – say after you went jogging alone – your friends and family will be alerted.

• There is even a Fake Call button that you can use if you are in a situation you need to avoid (maybe a bad date).  Your phone will ring and you can say you have an emergency and need to leave.

• The I’m Here feature allows you to let your closest friends and family know your whereabouts without alerting everyone – just those you want to let know you made it to your destination.

Both apps have a free version with basic features, and a premium version with additional features. Click here for more information on these incredibly useful apps.

React Mobile

One of the cofounders of this app, Robb Monkman, was held at gunpoint in a home invasion. This terrifying experience inspired him to create the React Mobile app to help others during emergency situations.  Most of our children went back to school this past week and it can be difficult to keep track of them, what with all the playdates and after school activities.  This app lets parents be sure their child arrives where they are supposed to be.

Some features from this app include:

• GPS tracking that transmits a signal of the user’s last known location

• The “Follow Me” feature allows users to have chosen contacts follow their route in real time until they arrive to their intended destination safely

• The power to alert a pre-selected list of emergency contacts via SMS/text, email, and social media

• A prompt to automatically call 911 in case of an emergency

The app is free to download, and the “Follow Me” feature can be activated for $1.99/month. Available on iOS and most Android devices.

I plan to add these apps to my own phone. I want to have them “just in case” I ever need them, and for my own peace of mind. And when my daughter finally convinces us to get her a smartphone, this will be the first app we download.

Written by Melissa Northway

Melissa Northway, M.S. is a children’s picture book author whose little girl was the inspiration to write Penelope the Purple Pirate who is an adventure-loving role model that teaches children to be kind to others.  Melissa is the founder and editor of the lifestyle website dandelion moms and hopes to inspire women to go after their dreams – whatever they might be!  You can reach her at www.melissanorthway.com and www.dandelionmoms.com and @melissanorthway and @dandelionmoms.

Comments

comments