Calling it a way to give parents a “super power,” PBS Kids is now offering a free app that lets parents monitor and control what their kids are “watching, playing and learning” on PBSKids.org.
The app, called PBS KIDS Super Vision, now available on iPhone and iPod touch, enables parents to remotely see what apps their kids are currently using on the popular children’s site.
Real-time plus timer control
The app provides parents with real-time information on what their child is doing and enables the parent to remotely set a “play timer” from their mobile device to “put pbskids.org to sleep on their child’s screen,” according to a press release. It also offers an activity summary and provides related activities to help enhance the way the child is using the service.
“In our research with parents,” said Sara DeWitt, Vice President, PBS KIDS Digital, ‘we know that they not only trust PBS KIDS to provide educational content, they are also hungry for more information about what their kids are learning from our shows and games, and they want to know how they can extend that learning beyond the screen. We developed PBS KIDS Super Vision to help address these needs.”
PBS, which is a non-profit organization, offers a wide range of web-based activities and apps for children. The Super Vision app is one of two designed especially for parents. The other is PBS Parents Play & Learn, which provides parents with simple activities to enhance what children are learning with PBS Kids games, apps and videos.
The organization plans to update the app after getting feedback from parents, according to a spokesperson.