*affiliate links included below*
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The most stressful part of parenting for me is the monitoring of the kids’ internet usage. I have three kids, two still at home with my youngest being 11. Technology is life for them and it’s not uncommon for kids these days to have multiple devices that access the internet. I just watched a segment on The Today Show this past week that said kids and teenagers are spending 6 to 10 hours a day on some sort of screen. Isn’t that crazy! And if parents aren’t managing that screen time, that could be 6 to 10 hours unsupervised on the world wide web. That’s what scares me the most. So much of what is online is just not appropriate for our kids. But how do we organize and track their time online and what they have access to without losing our minds from the sheer exhaustion of it all. I’ll tell you how I did it and why I think every home with kids needs this device.
It’s call the Circle and it has made my life so much less complicated, less stressful and less exhausting. I’m not going to be shy in saying that this product changed my life. If I had to live without it now I’d be lost.
For those that have never heard of it before, Circle is a way for families to easily manage content and time online for every device in the home. As technology becomes more intertwined with our lives, the key is to get the most out of it, without having it completely take over. Circle wants to make it as easy as possible to help families find that balance in their lives.
Available in the US at various stores and online with free shipping and in Canada at Best Buy.
How CIRCLE Works To Manage the Internet:
Circle pairs wirelessly with your home Wi-Fi and allows you to manage every device on your network. If it’s connected to your Wi-Fi, Circle sees it and allows you to manage it. Whether it’s a laptop, tablet, or smart TV, Circle has you covered without any software needed on any of those devices. It’s all managed through one simple user friendly app (available for both Apple & Android) that you can then monitor from anywhere, at any time whether you are at home or not. This funny video explains a little more.
Basically, once you have the Circle set up through your router (don’t worry it’s easy to do) and created a profile for each person, it’s just a matter of assigning each device to a particular person and setting some limits.
It’s easy to set filter levels, time limits and bedtimes based on the age of each child and/or what you think is appropriate. No more nagging or fighting with the kids. When time limits are reached the internet is no longer available to that child and the app will notify you. And if anyone tries to tamper with the Circle box or it goes offline you will also get notified immediately.
The Circle has truly has given me peace of mind and why I do not hesitate for even a second to recommend this product to everyone I know. Please, please, please do not let your kids have unrestricted access to the internet. Now we can keep our kids safe without the hassle or headache.
Features include:
Time Limits:
Set daily time limits for each family member on any app, platform or category you want. With time limits you can customize how much time your kids spend on any given platform and even set a total online time for the day.
BedTimes:
Create a bedtime for each family member and their devices. Simply set a bedtime, when the devices will disconnect from the Internet, and an awake time, for when the devices will reconnect.
Filters:
Set individual filter levels for each family member. Circle has 4 preset age levels (Pre-K, Kid, Teen, Adult) and allows for further customization by platform, app, and category. Choose one that matches each family member’s age and interests, filtering out all inappropriate content. Circle can block ads for any user or device as well as it defaults Google searches to remove explicit content from their results.
Pause:
With the press of a button, you can Pause the Internet, disabling access to a specific device, individual, or the entire home. Seriously the best feature!!!
Insights:
Check out where your family spends their time online – by platform, category and website. With Insights, you can see the total time spent online and where, either by day, week, or month!
CircleGo:
There are no monthly subscription fees to manage all the device in your home with the Circle. However if you’d like to manage your child’s devices when outside the home on any network, you can sign up for CircleGo which is a subscription service. CircleGo takes all of the settings your kids’ devices have at home, and extends them to 4G LTE and any other WiFi network they join.
Are you tired of letting the Internet dictate what your family is exposed to? Not anymore! With CIRCLE you are the boss!! Keep kids safe online and keep your sanity doing it. For more information and to purchase visit the Circle site. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to ask me.
Giveaway (closed):
I’m thrilled today to be hosting a giveaway for TWO Circle devices (two winners will win one each). To enter all you have to do is fill in the Rafflecopter form below. As always only the first entry task is mandatory and all the rest after that are pure bonus for you (no comment necessary but of course they are always welcome!). Giveaway ends, Friday, January 27th at 4:00 pm MT. Good luck! Open to those living in Canada and the US.
- This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. However, I only ever mention products I love and would recommend whether I was being compensated or not. Thank you so much for your support of my site!
Shari says
Wow! My husband and I were just talking about this! We have 3 teenage boys, need i say more, ha ha! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
Laura Wittmann says
Trying to stay on top of the kids is hard work and so frustrating. This device will save your sanity that is for sure!
Christy Hoover says
What a great device! I had heard of it but after learning more, I know I need it to simplify our monitoring. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Love your blog!
Laura Wittmann says
Thanks Christy!!
Lindsay Bade says
Oh wow! The pause feature would be awesome! Time limits would be great for my youngest. I could use it for rewards after she finishes chores. The bedtime feature would be perfect for our family also since we have kids so far apart in ages. They have different bedtimes so this would help me so much!!
Laura Wittmann says
It’s so amazing Lindsay, I honestly can’t say enough good things about it. Life is so much easier now.