This post is brought to you by Moms With Apps and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.
Almost seven years ago, as my preschool aged daughter was about to inherit a hand-me-down computer from my mother-in-law, I wondered where we’d put the computer, what games and websites were ok for her to visit, and how we’d limit screen time. The questions that I had regarding our own family’s technology use made me realize that if I had these questions, others did too. It was the beginning of Tech Savvy Mama.
At the time, I had no idea then what the world of technology for our kids would become. In January 2008 Twitter and Facebook were relatively new. The iTunes App store didn’t open until six months later.
Now our children from the youngest ages are clamoring for our smartphones as we hope they’re engaging in some educational learning through apps and eBooks. But how do you go about choosing age appropriate content that’s just right for them? We know that not apps are created equally ad with so many to choose from, how do select ones the best ones that are easy to navigate yet provide safe learning experiences?
If you’ve wondered this very same thing, you’re not alone but Moms With Apps can help. Moms with Apps is a first-of-its-kind destination that gives parents the power to choose the best apps for their kids. It was founded by parents who love using technology with their own kids and are committed to high standards for protecting kids’ privacy while building great family-friendly apps.
As a parent and former teacher, I appreciate that the information on the Moms With Apps site provides me with helpful information when deciding what app is right for my kids before I put it on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, Android Phone or Tablet, Kindle Fire or Windows Phone. Yes, Moms with Apps allows you to discover apps or edit search terms to find apps for each aforementioned device!
The easy-to-use Moms with Apps site lets you do three things: 1) find the right apps for your children, 2) know what’s inside before downloading, and 3) get to know the developers who created the app.
Here’s a quick look at the Moms with Apps site and the benefits of using it to assist you when selecting apps for your family.
Find the rights apps for your children
All of these apps are meet a set of design and development guidelines. Take a look at the requirements that all Moms with Apps developers must meet to be part of the community!
Know what’s inside the app before downloading
In-app purchasing, the ability to go online to browse by tapping on something in the app, collecting personal or anonymous information, ads are just some of the things that Moms with Apps warns you know about before you download an app from one of their developers. I appreciate knowing that a developer has created an app that doesn’t link to social networks and is transparent when it comes to the Privacy Policy.
Search for apps based on certain criteria
Incorporate elements from the guide above to determine requirements but also search according to device, age range, and subject to quickly find great apps for your children.
Get to know the developers behind the app. I love knowing a bit more about the people who develop our favorite apps because they really are people! Through Moms with Apps, you can find out what inspires the developer of your new favorite app, share feedback, and search for more by them under the developer’s page.
I appreciate that Moms with Apps is a community of independent developers who have banded together as colleagues, instead of competitors, to help increase the visibility in the store. Apps and app developers who are part of the community use the Moms with Apps logo to indicate that they’ It’s a great example of collaboration of parents and developers but the vast majority of apps out there haven’t contacted them to join.
For more information, visit the Moms With Apps site, connect with them on Twitter @momswithapps, and Like them on Facebook. If you’re a developer and want to be a part of their community, contact them at info@momswithapps.com.
Images courtesy of Moms with Apps.
