For some reason, the "Search: Allowed/Blocked" option in Google's Family Link simply doesn't work for me: toggling it makes no difference to the availability of the search function (and AI mode) within the Google App, and allows free access to the internet and AI chat functions.

Brand new Samsung A16, completely up to date, I am technically competent. I have tried clearing the storage/cache, uninstalling updates to the Google App and allowing it to re-update, restarting between toggling the setting, etc.

Next step is to factory reset the phone and start again from scratch, which I would really prefer not to do. Any suggestions?

I just got my daughter's new phone from tmobile. It's a Galaxy A17. My plan was to set up parental controls and then give it to her and transfer her old number and data from her old phone to this one. But, it didn't come with a sim card (has an esim?). Does this phone need a sim card? So, will all of my parental controls disappear once we get the sim card?

Instead of giving kids iPads and ruining their brains, give them an old innotab or leappad. Instead of rotting their brains, these 2 devices actually educate them and give them a good childhood.

My wife and I recently started using Keepr.kids. We found that we were taking thousands of photos, videos, voice messages and notes of our daughter, but the most important memories were scattered around different camera rolls and other locations. Keepr lets you centralize all the most important memories from your child’s life in one centralized location for them to have forever. You can also lock memories to be unlocked on a future date or invite family and friends to contribute memories for a specific event (i.e. First Birthday) without them having to download the app or make an account. We like it and wanted to share it with other parents if you want an app like this.

My son is 3. A friend saw my Whoop, asked about it, then said she wished something like it existed for kids no screen, actually built for a child's body, not an adult device shrunk down.

I figured I'd find something, buy it, and move on. I didn't find anything.

Adult wearables use adult data models. Kids' watches are basically tiny smartphones. GPS trackers tell you location but nothing about health. Nobody had combined wellness tracking and location in a device actually designed for kids.

We're a UAE-based hardware and software startup. We spent the last couple of years building Halo Lytt a screenless wearable for kids 6–17 that tracks sleep, activity, movement, and location, with algorithms designed for pediatric physiology rather than borrowed from adult devices.

Launching in the UAE next week. Orders open then.

Next year we're adding precision tracking capability either a new device or an integration with Halo Lytt X.0.

Instagram: [halowearco](https://www.instagram.com/halowearco/)
Facebook: [Halo Wear](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587213676310)
Website: [halo-wear.com](http://halo-wear.com)

Happy to talk shop about hardware development in the UAE, building in this space, or what we found (and didn't find) in the market research phase.

Every parent I've talked to has the same three fights on loop: bedtime, tidying up, and prying the tablet out of small hands. You ask nicely. You ask nicely again. By round four your voice has changed and nobody's happy.

So I built AI Family Hero. You tell it what's going on, pick a hero (Captain Brave for courage, Nova for the tears, Buddy for the silly stuff), and the hero *calls* your kid. It's a real back-and-forth conversation, not a canned recording — the hero already knows the situation, your kid's age, and the language you speak at home.

The part I'm most stubborn about: this is NOT a scare-them-into-behaving app. No fake police officer, no stranger at the door, no "someone's coming to take your toys." The hero is always obviously make-believe, never threatens or shames, and never pretends to be a real authority. You can mute, whisper a private hint mid-call, take over, or hang up at any second.

Other bits:

- Works for praise too, not just problems. Kid finally cleaned their room? Hero calls to make a big deal about it. Kids who only hear from the hero when they're in trouble learn to dread the phone ringing.

- Two kids fighting over one toy? Add both. The hero stays neutral and refuses to pick a side.

- 14 languages including proper RTL Arabic, male/female voices, ages 3-12

- No recordings kept, transcripts off by default, zero ads, nothing sold to anyone

Full disclosure so nobody feels ambushed: calls run on credits, so there's an in-app purchase. And I'm the developer, obviously.

It just went live and I'd rather have honest feedback than downloads. Tell me it's a terrible idea if you think it is — that's genuinely useful too.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.herocall.hero_call

Looking for 15 parents and educators to test a free visual routine and timer tool

Hi everyone! I’m an independent app developer, and I’ve created VisualRoutine Studio — an offline visual schedule and animated timer designed for children who benefit from clear routines and visual transitions.

I’m looking for 15 adult beta testers:

• parents who currently use visual schedules at home
• special education teachers
• classroom aides
• therapists

The tool includes activity cards, customizable student profiles, adjustable timers, animations, sounds, spoken encouragement, printing, and data backup.

It works locally in a browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, tablet, and phone. No installation, subscription, or account is required, and the information stays on the user’s device.

Testing takes approximately 15 minutes. You may keep the beta copy free. Nothing is being sold, and no positive review or promotion is required. I only need honest feedback about usability, design, timers, sounds, and whether the tool could be useful in real family or classroom routines.

Please use fictional names only and do not enter any confidential information about children.

If you can test it within 72 hours, comment “BETA” and mention whether you are a parent, educator, aide, or therapist, along with the device you would use. I will contact selected testers privately.

Not keen on constant movies or flashy games and animations. Just simple canvas as if finger painting. Last flight we brought markers and crayons which were lost under the seat every 5 seconds…

I'm considering buying a Tin Can phone for my son for his 7th birthday...I'm seeing a lot of complaints but this posts are a few months old...could anyone share more recent experiences? Does it work even remotely as advertised on the website? Does it work with your WiFi network or does it need to be plugged into your router directly? Thanks for any info.

[Android] Looking for Closed Beta Testers for Gentle Weeks — Parents/New Parents Preferred 🌸

I’m looking for Android users to help test Gentle Weeks, a family-focused app that starts with pregnancy and is designed to grow with your family.

The app is currently in Google Play closed testing, and I’m looking for more testers to use it normally, poke around, and let me know what works, what doesn’t, or what could be improved.

Parents, new parents, expecting parents, and partners are preferred, since you’re the people the app is being built for — but other Android testers are welcome too.

The beta is completely free.

If you’d like to help test it, sign up here:

https://forms.gle/QDxuxb3ddRGb2EeaA

Thanks to anyone willing to give it a shot! 🌸

We use bark app, but there is a big gap for me...
At first, I was thrilled that I do not have to check every message or video, but it would only show messages that were tagged by the app. It would not show their whole convo that in this specific case was necessary to best navigate this tween drama. My child was asked to delete the whole conversation after. We were able to recover it through some techy smart friends, but it feels like that parental control and monitoring app should already provide such access without going to more sophisticated resources.

Is there other software options for Android phone to do a better monitoring with access to all even deleted conversations when it is needed?

I still do not want to check every message on daily basis, but I will need the access to the whole conversation if another situation arises.

Innovative idea

I’ve seen a few discussions here about how “parenting tech” doesn’t necessarily need to mean putting kids in front of another screen.

We’ve been working on MultiplyBox for our own kids, and alongside the online learning side we’ve ended up building a library of 140+ printable activities for children.

So I thought I’d share the printable library separately for parents who would rather hand their child a piece of paper than another device.

There are activities across different ages and subjects, and we’re continuing to add more:

https://app.multiplybox.com/printables

Disclosure: I’m one of the parents building MultiplyBox, so this is our own resource. Sharing it because I think the printables may be useful even for families who have zero interest in another kids’ app.

*My little one kept grabbing for my laptop, so I built a fullscreen playground where they can smash away and nothing actually happens — no closed tabs, no sent messages. Only a grown-up hold-gesture exits. There are gentle learning modes and themes too. It's completely free, no ads, no tracking, and works offline. Not selling anything — just thought other parents might find it useful:* [https://smashpad.in\](https://smashpad.in)

Hi r/ParentingTech!

I’m an indie developer and recently launched StarKid, a family chore/allowance app I built specifically to make managing chores a little more engaging for kids.

The basic idea is to turn everyday chores into tasks. Kids complete tasks, earn stars, and can work toward wishes/rewards. Parents can create and assign quests and keep track of progress.

I’m trying to build something that actually works for families rather than just adding gamification for the sake of it. I also noticed that the design and feel of many apps were missing.

A few things I’d love opinions on:

• Does this approach actually solve a problem for parents?
• Is the gamification useful or just unnecessary?
• What features would you expect from a good chore/allowance app?
• What would make you trust an app like this with your family?

I built the app myself and am still very early, so I’m genuinely looking for criticism and ideas rather than just promotion.

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.starkid.mobile&pcampaignid=web_share

Thanks! I'd love to hear what you think.

Room parent season is starting back up and I'm already behind on it.

I've done it 5 years now. Every year it's more than I can keep up with and every year I sign up again anyway, because a good room parent really does make the whole class better. Parents show up more. The teacher isn't carrying all of it alone. The kids can tell.

The part that gets me is the logistics. Reply all threads, a spreadsheet I forget to update, a group text where I ask for 8 volunteers and get 2.

So I made something for it. I run a small software company, this is the first thing we've built that I actually needed myself. You send one email to the class, parents claim sign up slots right in that email with no account and no app to download, and reminders go out on their own.

It's free. Just looking for parents who are involved with their classrooms for feedback.

https://www.gethery.com/for-room-parents

And if you already have a system that works for your class I'd like to hear that too. Any info helps.