Recommended Resources
Many of you have ask for recommended resources for raising kids with a healthy perspective of technology and social media. First, let me say parents YOU are the best resource when it comes to teaching your kids about online safety. Communication is your BEST filter. Does this mean I don't recommend filters? No! But, remember a filter isn't a parent. So, use a filter on your computer and devices to screen out pornography and other inappropriate content. And, talk to your kids about online safety and their digital lives.
Build Strong Digital Citizens by Discussing
- Time spent online
- Being a producer and not just a consumer on digital content
- Sexting
- Pornography
- FOMO (fear of missing out)
- Staying Safe Online
You can get other conversation starter ideas in my Tech Talk Conversation Cards. They are available for purchase. Or, get them free when you join my subscriber list. Subscribers also get a new technology related freebie each month!
The resources I recommend below do use affiliate links. This means when you purchase something using the link I receive affiliate credit. Any money I receive is at no cost to you. And, the small amount of affiliate money I receive all goes to help support this website. I've hand selected the recommended resources. So you can be sure these are resources I truly love.
Recommended Resources
Recommended Filters
Mobicip
Mobicip isn't just a safe browser. It's a holistic parental control tool. And, it supports the widest range of platforms including iOS, Android, Chromebooks, Windows, Mac and Kindle.
With Mobicip, parents can:
- limit/schedule screen time
- filter internet access on all browsers
- block all kinds of inappropriate content
- view videos watched, social media usage and browsing history
- block apps & games
- track the location of children
- supervise videos & streaming services
- monitor & track online activity 24x7
- invite parents/guardians to share parental control duties with
Protect 5 devices for just $39.99/year.
Get a 7 day trial FREE!
Circle
Circle pairs with your home Wi-Fi and lets you manage every connected device on your network, both wireless and wired, without ever needing to put software on them. You can set Time Limits for apps and web sites, finally getting online screen time in check. You can also set up age appropriate filters that apply to all their devices.
Cost $99
Circle Go is also available. Circle Go takes all of the settings your kids’ devices have at home and extends them to 4G LTE and any other Wi-Fi network they join.
Cost $4.99/month for up to 10 devices
Covenant Eyes
In addition to traditional filters, Covenant Eyes offers an accountability program. It's a great option for teens who need to learn how to self-monitor as they get closer to entering college or the work force.
Cost $15.99/month for the ENTIRE family
This covers unlimited devices and offers filtering!
Recommended Email Providers for Kids
KidsEmail
Free Trial: Yes!
Cost: $4.95/month for up to 4 email accounts. Or, they have a cheaper annual rate of $2.99/month for up to 6 email accounts.
KidsEmail offers a safe email option for families. There are many features that parents can control. This makes KidsEmail a great email provider for families who have kids of varying ages and needs or have kids who will grow in responsibility over time. In fact, kids can grow right into a teen account with KidsEmail.
GET KIDSMAIL: APPLE APP STORE GOOGLE PLAY STORE AMAZON APP STORE
TocoMail
Free Trial: Yes!
Cost: $2.99/monthly or $29/annually
Tocomail is a simple email format that kids as young as 5 years old can begin using. There are 2 formats with Tocomail. Kids 5-7 can get started using the simplified version. Here they can select a contact from a contact list of parent-approved addresses. Then they can format their email using Tocomail’s easy interface: painting, typing, or adding photos. Once the email is sent, the receiver gets an attachment containing the email as opposed to a text-based email. As kids grow, they can move along to the standard format. Here kids select an email address from their approved contact list, then compose a standard text-based email to send.
GET TOCOMAIL: APPLE APP STORE GOOGLE PLAY STORE AMAZON APP STORE
ZILLAMAIL
Free Trial: Yes
Cost: Basic service is FREE! Premium service is $1.99/month or $14.99/annually
ZillaMail is a safe, web-based email option for kids 6 and up. They are in compliance with the Child Online Privacy Act (COPPA). There’s several things kids will love about ZillaMail. First, they can select their display theme. Think this doesn’t matter to kids? Are you using the default display theme for your computer? For Google? Next, ZillaMail is a part of ZillaDog.com. Here kids can not only explore the internet in a safe environment, they can learn about internet safety. ZillaMail has all the features parents want and it’s simple to use.
SEE A DEMO OF ZILLAMAIL OR SIGN UP FOR IT TODAY!
ZOOBUH
Free Trial: No
Cost: $1.00/month
ZooBuh is a web-based email provider for parents who are looking for something other than Gmail for their kids. ZooBuh has a colorful website that’s appealing to kids. It’s a simple email program. This makes it great for kids who know how to type but are just learning the basics of online communication.
SEE A DEMO OF ZOOBUH OR SIGN UP FOR IT TODAY!
Recommended Computer/Device Protection
MalwareBytes detects malware 24/7 and removes it before it can be a threat to your computer. It stops ransomware attacks and shields against malicious websites. This is what I run on my computer as well as the computers in our home and businesses. I love that it runs on Windows, Mac, and Android devices.
It runs $39.99 per device.
Trust me when I say, you can't skimp on antivirus protection!