These days, the modern household is buzzing with technology, with most homes containing a number of different gadgets. In 2018, it is reported that nearly 40% of households have two or more mobile phones. In one quick and easy online process, you can insure up 10 different gadgets.
At loveit coverit, we want to help protect your family’s devices in the most cost-effective way. So if you are worried about your children dropping, losing or drowning their phones, we can put your mind at ease with our affordable family phone insurance. Our policies have unlimited claims, so don’t panic if someone cracks the tablet screen and someone else loses their phone, we’ll still cover you.
10% discount - when you insure more than one device
With the summer holidays around the corner, your kids will no doubt be out and about more often. You’ll want to ensure you’re able to contact them at any given time, so it’s highly advisable to protect their phones in case they damage or lose it while they’re out. Knowing you can contact your children if you need to will give you peace of mind and give you one less thing to worry about!
Best Family Phone Insurance
Holidays are notorious for causing accidental damage to devices. If you've bought your child a brand new phone for Christmas, the last thing you'll want is it getting lost or damaged. Our affordable premiums make it easy for you to protect your children's gadgets, in order to avoid hefty repair or replacement charges.
Our insurance includes worldwide cover so we’ll cover you if you drop your phone by the pool (or worse, in the pool) or your kid buries it in the sand causing it to not function properly! If you’re planning to go away on holiday in the next few months and you love your phone or tablet, make sure they’re protected. See our top tips on protecting your phone while on holiday.
Don’t forget we offer 10% off when you insure more than one device, so if you want to insure your whole family’s gadgets, whether it’s the family tablet or your children’s mobile phones, you can do it without breaking the bank!
The Internet can be a treasure trove of information, games, videos and so much more, but it’s also like the Wild West out there. With young people becoming more tech-savvy than ever before, how can parents supervise and keep their children safe while online?
The Internet can be a treasure trove of information, games, videos and so much more, but it’s also like the Wild West out there. With young people becoming more tech-savvy than ever before, how can parents supervise and keep their children safe while online?
While it’s important to respect their privacy and independence, children may need a helping hand navigating the vast and complex online world. That’s why parental control apps are so important. These apps offer a range of functionalities such as limiting time spent on the device, tracking usage and location, or blocking certain websites.
Of course, there’s no substitute for direct supervision and guidance, but these apps can help make parents’ lives easier and teach children how to browse the internet safely.As part of our research into how smartphones are affecting our younger generation, here are our picks of the best free and paid parental control apps for your family’s devices.
FamilyTime – for families with both young children and teenagers
iOS and Android
Free trial and Premium plans available
• MyFamily – $27 per year
• MyFamily 2 – $35 per year
• MyFamily 5 – $69 per year
FamilyTime is a user-friendly app that lets you customise your control options to create a tailored plan for your family. The software offers a wide range of settings, such as setting time limits around homework and bedtimes, mature content filters, and blocking certain apps from your devices. Aside from monitoring your child’s internet activity, FamilyTime also offers innovative features such as location-based SOS alerts and speed tracking features for teenagers who drive.
Although FamilyTime is a comprehensive app that offers many features, web tracking is limited and there is no support for monitoring social media. What’s more, the setup is slightly more complex as it requires you to download and set up two separate apps – one for parents and one for children. It may seem a little overwhelming for some parents, so if you’re looking for a simple monitoring app, FamilyTime may not be for you.
Qustodio – for families concerned about their children talking to strangers
iOS and Android
Free and Premium plans available
• Small plan – £35.95 per year
• Medium plan – £64.95 per year
• Large plan – £92.95 per year
Qustudio offers a full suite of parental control settings such as time schedules for specific apps, content blocking, and even call and message tracking features. It conveniently creates a profile for each child, which can then be applied to multiple devices. The app also breaks down your child’s online activity in handy reports to show data such as what sites or apps they visit the most, and any search terms they’ve used.
If you’re concerned that your child is spending too much time on one app, or communicating too often with specific people, Qustodio is great for setting specific restrictions. Although the price point may be high for some, Qustodio is ideal for households with multiple users across multiple devices. With extensive cross-platform support across operating systems like Android, iOS, PC, Mac, and more, your child is protected no matter what device is used.
ESET Parental Control – for families who are teaching their children to be safe online
Android only
Free and Premium plans available
• 1 user – £19.99 per year
• 2 users – £39.99 per year
• 3 users – £59.99 per year
• 4 users – £79.99 per year
ESET Parental Control is an easy to use app which lets parents quickly review and manage their child’s online activity. The app comes with pre-set settings based on your child’s age, which can then be configured to suit your needs. ESET offers a range of features such as a content filter, app usage reports, and a website blocker. One unique feature is their parental message feature where children can ask to access a restricted site or request more time on an app.
ESET is ideal for parents who don’t want to spend lots of time fiddling with individual settings. The app offers a useful overview that can give parents an outline of their child’s activity, and the message function can help initiate family conversations about internet safety. However, ESET does not offer call and message tracking, so other apps may be better if parents require more comprehensive monitoring.
Screen Time divides its functions into two categories: ‘monitoring’ and ‘managing’. The former provides data into your child’s app usage and web browsing history, while the latter allows parents to actively manage their child’s online activity. This includes time limits, approving new app installs, and an ‘Instant Pause’ function for when your child really needs to get off their phone! One particular feature unique to Screen Time is the rewards function, which gives your child additional screen time for completing their homework or chores.
Screen Time’s strengths lie in getting children to manage their device usage, but lags behind its competitors when it comes to monitoring and filtering online content. If you’re looking for a simple parental control app, Screen Time is a good starting point and can help families talk to their children about excessive screen time. However, if you require more in-depth control measures, there are other apps on the market which are more suitable.
Kidslox – for families who want to set boundaries on their device
iOS and Android
Free and Premium plans available
• $39.99 per year
• $79.99 lifetime (one-off payment)
Kidslox is a user-friendly parental control app that uses only one account to protect all the devices in your household. The app gives parents the ability to limit their child’s screen time, with features like a daily time limit, lockdown schedules for homework and bedtimes, and locking distracting apps. There’s also a content filter which lets children browse the web safely, however, there’s no support for message, call or social media tracking.
Control settings are easy to configure with the tap of a button or switch; perfect for parents who want a hassle-free experience. There’s also a handy ‘3-Way-Toggle’ function that lets you quickly block social media apps, games, and internet access depending on the security level you need – ranging from unrestricted ‘Parent mode’ to a fully restricted ‘Lockdown mode’. Kidslox supports most major operating systems across various devices, ensuring secure cross-platform coverage for your child.
FamiSafe – for families giving children their first mobile phone
iOS and Android
Free trial and Premium plans available
• $9.99 per month
• $19.99 per quarter (3 months)
• $59.99 per year
FamiSafe comes with your standard suite of parental control features, such as an app blocker, screen time monitor, and web content blocker. However, FamiSafe’s most popular features are the location tracking capabilities. This allows parents to monitor their child’s real-time location, location history, and set geofences around safe areas – ideal if your child is travelling to school by themselves. There is also a unique ‘Smart Schedule’ feature which will block apps or limit usage automatically, depending on the time, date and location variables you’ve set.
FamiSafe provides app usage and web content monitoring data, but does not offer call or message tracking capabilities. The ‘Smart Schedule’ makes it easy for parents to automatically adjust the level of control, for example, allowing more screen time at the weekend. Combined with open conversations about using their device responsibly, FamiSafe is ideal for parents whose children are beginning to become more independent.
Every generation of parents faces a new challenge that those before them had the pleasure not to contend with. For the modern day parent, this challenge is technology. However, it is possible to feel confident of your child’s wellbeing- we’ve put together five things to consider when allowing your child their own mobile.
Every generation of parents faces a new challenge that those before them had the pleasure not to contend with. For the modern day parent, this challenge is technology. No, not keeping up to date with the latest gadgets (although this can be a task unto itself), but keeping up with how your children are using them. It is estimated that as many as 68% of children under 14 now own a smartphone, yet for many parents, it’s a choice that’s preceded by hours of deliberating and indecision. The very reason many allow their child their first mobile, is for safety, and yet it can be the cause of endless worrying, especially with plenty of time on their hands now the summer holidays are underway. However, it is possible to feel confident of your child’s wellbeing- we’ve put together five things to consider when allowing your child their own mobile.
Limit their internet access
Fortunately, all mobile phone companies are obliged to provide an internet filter on their phones to block potentially harmful content, but what not a lot of people know is that most operators won’t activate this filter unless you ask them too. It also goes without saying that it’s really important to look into whether the phone has access to chatrooms.
Similarly, it makes sense to check whether Bluetooth is enabled- if it is, any personal information on their phone may not remain personal! The key is to be proactive and not make assumptions- better to be safe than sorry.
Know who they are speaking to
Another fairly obvious point, but it really is worth emphasising the importance of speaking to your child about who they have contact with. As well as never answering calls from withheld numbers, or those they don’t recognise, it’s also essential they don’t give out their number to people they don’t know. The same goes for text messages.
Be aware of cyber bullying
No one wants to think about their child being bullied, but whilst the internet, and social networks like Facebook, can help them to form friendships, it also makes life a lot easier for cyber bullies, providing kids with what can seem like an almost anonymous platform to target people from. Depending on the age of your child therefore, it’s worth making sure you have access to, and regularly check, their phone. On top of this, simply ensuring they feel they can talk to you about anything is a great step towards tackling the issue.
Keep an eye on your bills
As well as making the decision of whether your child has a pay as you go deal or a contract, it’s also important to think about the potential costs of added extras. Picture messages and voicemails often fall outside of your monthly allowance for example. Streaming videos and downloading games can also see your bills spiral out of control!
Keep their phone safe
Think of how many times you’ve broken your screen, dropped your phone in water, or felt the uncontrollable panic when you wonder where you left your phone. Now imagine your child in possession of a phone, and consider all the things that could go wrong. Speak to your child about keeping their phone zipped away when they aren’t using it, get a sturdy case and make sure you take out mobile phone insurance!
The debate as to whether children should be allowed smartphones (or more accurately, at what age children should be allowed smartphones) has waged on for years. As with any emerging technology, the definitive impact that it has on the youngest and most impressionable in our society is yet to be fully determined, however, that hasn’t stopped a host of opinion pieces and hot takes being written on the subject. We're taking a look at the effect smartphones are having on our younger generation and in this article, we’ll collate all the information to give a balanced perspective on whether your child should have a smartphone, looking at the pros, cons, and potential risks.
The debate as to whether children should be allowed smartphones (or more accurately, at what age children should be allowed smartphones) has waged on for years. As with any emerging technology, the definitive impact that it has on the youngest and most impressionable in our society is yet to be fully determined, however, that hasn’t stopped a host of opinion pieces and hot takes being written on the subject. We’re taking a look at the effect smartphones are having on our younger generation and in this article, we’ll collate all the information to give a balanced perspective on whether your child should have a smartphone, looking at the pros, cons, and potential risks.
Independence
One of the biggest arguments for letting children have smartphones (even from an early age) is the increased independence that it gives them. Obviously, this has to be done within reason – no one is suggesting that giving a 4-year-old a smartphone means they’re capable of fending for themselves! However, by having an easy source of contact with your child that you wouldn’t otherwise have, it does mean that they’re able to go out with friends during the day without you worrying where they are or what time they’re coming home. Equally, where evening entertainment used to revolve around the family, children can now have their own independent space, separate from parents and siblings, where they are free to watch what they want, interact how they want, and relax how they want.
Obviously, there is some potential risks associated with this independence, such as children becoming detached from the rest of the family or watching/ playing inappropriate content on their smartphones. However, these risks can be easily averted with parental control apps and enforcement times.
Safety
It’s ridiculous to suggest that the world is somehow less safe than it was before smartphones were prevalent. In fact, with more and more children having smartphones, thus making it easier to get hold of a family member or authorities in the case of an emergency, it’s safe to assume that they’re actually better off with a mobile. This, combined with the fact that phone boxes and payphones are no longer as common as they once were, means that parents don’t have to worry as much about getting hold of their children (and vice versa) if something happens.
The counter argument to the issue of safety is that ownership of a phone opens children up to some threats that are only presented with a smartphone. For example, the threat of cyberbullying is greatly increased if children have access to the internet through their smartphones, and they’re also more at risk to online predators. While there are legitimate concerns around these topics, it’s important that parents are frank and honest with their children about the dangers of using the online features of smartphones, and educate them about how to protect themselves online.
Social Interaction
In a child’s formative years, social interaction is essential for healthy development, and there’s been plenty of concern regarding the impact that smartphones may be having on this natural development. One of the biggest concerns, as previously stated, is that long-term exposure to a smartphone from an earlier age can have a detrimental effect on social skills and childrens’ ability to communicate ‘normally’ with one another. Whether this be an inability to communicate in a context that isn’t online, using inappropriate language in a public space, or simply not interacting at all, it’s important for parents to ensure that their children are interacting in a physical and digital context.
On the other hand, smartphones do give children the ability to remain in touch with friends and family outside of normal allotted times. For example, children can build on new friendships they’ve made in school by texting after-the-fact, helping them to interact. Equally, if you have family that live further away, a smartphone allows children to connect with relative as and when they want, be that via text, call or even video.
School
On top of being a useful social tool, smartphones also give young people access to a wealth of knowledge that can be very beneficial to their schooling. In fact, many schools are starting to adopt a policy of children using smartphones to enhance their learning experience, whether through something innocuous such as a calculator or for bigger research projects.
However, critics suggest that smartphones pose a big danger to the overall education of students, as they can be a source of distraction in lessons. There has been some evidence to suggest a link between smartphone use in schools and lower GCSE grades, however, this is not entirely conclusive. When considering whether your child should have a mobile phone or not, it’s important to consider how it could affect their schooling, especially as smartphones become more and more advanced.
Addiction and Mental Health
Another much-touted reason for not giving your child a mobile phone when they’re young is that it can have a detrimental effect on their mental health, specifically in those with low self-confidence and with undiagnosed addictive personality. Indeed, children having access to the internet and social media via their smartphone is inevitably going to expose them to less savoury aspects of the digital landscape, which is why it’s important to monitor their use and take precautions where you feel it’s necessary.
Critics also point to recent studies which suggest that children that use smartphones get less sleep, on average, then those without.
Ultimately, it’s up to you when you feel your child is ready for a smartphone, and the decision of whether you ‘should’ give your child a smartphone has to be made with all of these elements in mind.
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