Parents always have concerns about their children's safety. Back then, we used to keep a close watch on their activity and stop them from doing something dangerous. However, things have changed now. The new generation of kids calls parents, checking their phones out of concern, an intrusion of privacy. So, what do we do? Stop worrying about our children? That option is even more dangerous because the world is full of “insider” threats and dangerous “content” that kids must never view. Parents nowadays can use computer monitoring software smartly to keep their children safe without intruding on their personal space.

What is Computer Monitoring Software for Parents?

Let us get this straight first. Computer monitoring software, sometimes known as employee monitoring software , was never meant for primary use by parents to keep their kids safe. However, it serves the purpose of keeping employees accountable by tracking the activities they are doing on their work systems. However, parents too can use its user-friendly features to keep their children offline and online.     

Top 9 Features Parents Need to Look For in Computer Monitoring Software

As a parent, concerned about the safety of your child, you don't need the complex features of computer monitoring software, such as project management software integration. However, you can use these 9 features of computer monitoring software more intelligently for the sake of your kids' safety.

1. App & URL Tracking

Children these days study online using apps and websites. However, curiosity or mostly “digital marketing” ads can make them wander off. For example, a shopping website and order something they shouldn't, or view content not meant for kids. To prevent this from happening, simply activate the app and URL tracking feature of computer monitoring software, and you will have this information whenever you need it.   

2. Time Tracking

Time tracking is the best computer monitoring feature to keep your kids from using their devices for too long. What this feature does is give you details regarding how long your children were using their tablet or something. Kids need to stay active, sleep, and play too. Right?  

3. Login/Logout tracker

The time tracking feature gives you detailed records of every app and URL, which can make it complex to identify how long your child was using their laptop. However, with this feature we are talking about here, you will simply know the switch-on and shutdown times.

4. App & URL Usage Control

You can also put restrictions on which apps and websites your children use with this feature of computer tracking software. What you can do is:

 

  • Block particular websites (for example, social media and adult URLs)

  • Put time controls on certain websites (for example, the child will be logged out of the cartoon-watching website after 30 minutes or so)

5. Screenshot Monitoring

For parents who are worried sleep-drained about their child, the screenshot monitoring feature of computer monitoring software works like a relief provider. What it does is provide you with screenshots of the kid's screen, let's say every 5 minutes, which ensures that the child is only studying.

6. Alerts & Notifications

For working parents, this computer monitoring software feature acts like a wake-up alarm. So, for example, once you have configured it, you will get an alert or notification according to your preferences in real-time when your child is in “online” or “offline” danger. Then, it's up to you whether to rush home, just warn your kid from the office on call, or let it pass.

7. Idle Time Tracking

Other than what your child is doing, you also need to know what your child is not doing online. For example, smart kids can leave the study tab open and simply take a nap instead of learning. Well, to prevent such smart children from staying dumb their whole life, parents can use the idle time tracking feature of computer monitoring software to know for how long their child did not perform a, let's say, tap on their tablet.

 

8. Real-time GPS Location Tracking

This will work because most children carry smartphones with them these days. So, parents can track their real-time locations and keep them from wandering off.

9. Call & Message Tracking

This feature may feel intrusive. However, given the bad world of today, it's a necessary computer monitoring software feature. What it does is provide parents with the phone numbers their child is talking to. This information helps parents block and report any suspicious numbers. 

Conclusion

With that, we are done putting our post for this title, Top Features You Need to Look For in Computer Monitoring Software for Parents, under wraps. To conclude and provide you with a final word, we would say that keeping children safe is one thing, but respecting their personal space is also essential. Parents must choose computer monitoring software that supports trust and tracking. Speaking of which, one such tool for your employees, which parents can also use to keep their kids secure, is DeskTrack's work monitoring software. It monitors in real-time and provides the most detailed reports and insights.