The app that could bring back family meals: dinner time automatically locks your children's phone and tablet until they have eaten
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Family meals have been decimated by technology, with children often spending their entire time tapping away on their phone - if they can be removed from their bedroom to come to the table at all.
However, a new free app claims to be able to solve the problem - by locking their gadgets at meal times.
The free DinnerTime app can show children how long they have, then lock their phone - and even show them how long is left until they can leave the table.
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Once the parent activates the DinnerTime functionality to pause activity on their child's device, everything from apps and the internet to texting and calling friends is temporarily disabled.
WHAT CAN IT DO?
The app can set:
Dinner Time: pauses any activity for any set time, up to 2 hours
Take a Break: pauses any activity for any set time, up to 24 hours
Bed Time: set a start and end time to pause any activity while in Bed Time mode. This still allows kids to access their alarm clock
An advanced version can:
Set time limits for how long your children can use both the app and the device
Display real-time status of your children's device and which app is currently running
See how long your child has used their device and on what apps, so you know exactly what's distracting them
Choose which apps your child can access, i.e. only educational apps during exam time.
The app was created by Richard Sah, Co-Founder of DinnerTime, after noticing his three children were always distracted.
'I've noticed that my children find technology to be addictive at times, playing games or watching videos on their tablets or phones, and are easily distracted by their devices at dinnertime and bedtime.
'This gave me the idea for DinnerTime, as I wanted to create something that could help my children focus on other activities, and we could enjoy quality time together.'
Once the parent activates the DinnerTime functionality to pause activity on their child's device, everything from apps and the internet to texting and calling friends is temporarily disabled.
Children can even see a countdown clock, so they are aware of exactly how much time remains before they are able to access their device again - reducing distractions from schoolwork and family time.
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According to a recent study of parents carried out by the firm, 89 percent of their 6-to-9-year-olds are active online, with only 14 percent of 3-5 year olds being able to tie their own shoes compared to a staggering 57 percent who know how to operate a tablet.
With parents finding the process of guiding their children to a healthy relationship with technology more difficult than ever before, the DinnerTime app is as a simple solution for parents who want to limit their children's activity on their mobile phones.
'ZeroDesktop's vision is to create innovative products and tools that make everyday life easier, and the DinnerTime app is our latest invention' said Young Song, CEO of ZeroDesktop.
'Technology offers us an incredible source of information at our fingertips, as well as connecting people around the world.
'Yet at the same it poses significant challenges in its addictiveness, and can cause a barrier between people.
'For years people have been saying that technology is making us anti-social -- this is something we hope to change.'
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