Parental Controls: Top 10 Smart Home Must-Haves and Gadgets for Families

Smart thermostats:

Smart thermostats like the Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee SmartThermostat are not only great for saving energy, but also for creating a comfortable home environment for your family. These devices learn your schedule and preferences, ensuring your home is always at the perfect temperature. Control them remotely with an app, making it easy to adjust settings when you’re away from home.

Main benefits:

Personalized temperature control
Energy saving
Remote management

Smart lighting:

Smart lighting systems like Philips Hue and LIFX offer more than just energy savings. They allow you to create different lighting scenes, which can be especially useful for families. Set brighter lights for homework time and softer shades for bedtime. These lights can be controlled remotely, so you never come home to a dark house.

Main benefits:

Personalized lighting schedules
Remote and automatic control
Energy saving light bulbs

Smart speakers:

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hub serve as the central control centers of your smart home. With built-in virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, you can manage other smart devices, play music, check the weather, and even help your kids with their homework using voice commands.

Main benefits:

Voice control for smart devices
An entertainment and educational tool
Integrated Virtual Assistants

Smart plugs:

Smart plugs like the TP-Link Kasa and Wemo Mini provide an easy way to remotely control electrical devices in your home. They let you turn devices on and off using an app, set schedules, and monitor energy usage. This is especially useful for making sure potentially dangerous devices like hair irons and straighteners are turned off when not in use.

Main benefits:

Remote control of devices
Monitoring energy consumption
Planning options

Smart Security Cameras:

Smart security cameras like those from Arlo, Ring, and Nest are essential for keeping an eye on your home. These cameras offer high-definition video, night vision, and motion detection. Monitor your property remotely with an app, receive instant alerts for any suspicious activity, and access recorded footage for added security.

Main benefits:

Remote monitoring
High-resolution video
Motion Detection Alerts

Video intercoms:

Video doorbells like the Ring Video Doorbell and Nest Hello combine the functionality of a doorbell with a security camera. These devices let you see and talk to visitors using your smartphone, adding security and convenience. Get alerts when someone approaches your door, even if they don’t ring, and make sure your kids are safe when they answer the door.

Main benefits:

Real-time video monitoring
Two-way communication
Motion Detection Alerts

Smart door locks:

Smart door locks like August Smart Lock and Schlage Encode offer keyless entry and remote access control. Lock or unlock your door from your smartphone, grant temporary access to guests or family members, and receive notifications about door activity. These locks integrate with other smart home devices for a comprehensive security solution.

Main benefits:

Keyless entry
Remote access control
Activity notifications

Parental control apps:

Parental control apps like Qustodio and Net Nanny are essential for monitoring and managing your children’s online activities. These apps allow you to set screen time limits, block inappropriate content, and track your child’s location. They provide peace of mind by keeping your children safe while they’re online.

Main benefits:

Managing screen time
Content filtering
Location tracking

Smart baby monitors:

Smart baby monitors like the Nanit Plus and Owlet Smart Sock go beyond traditional baby monitors. These devices offer high-definition video, two-way audio, and even health monitoring features like heart rate and oxygen levels. Monitor your baby’s sleep patterns and receive alerts right on your smartphone, ensuring your baby’s safety and well-being.

Main benefits:

High-definition video and audio
Health monitoring
Sleep monitoring and alerts

Smart home centers:

A smart home hub, such as Samsung SmartThings or Wink Hub, serves as a central control unit for all your smart devices. These hubs connect and manage multiple devices from different brands, providing seamless integration. Use a smart home hub to create complex automation routines and control everything from a single app, simplifying your smart home experience.

Main benefits:

Central device control
Integration of different brands
Advanced automation

Application:

Adding these top 10 apps and gadgets to your home will quickly improve connectivity, convenience, and control, making your home a safer, more efficient place for your family. From smart thermostats and lighting to advanced security systems and parental control apps, these technologies offer numerous benefits for a modern, connected lifestyle. Embrace the future of home automation and enjoy a more connected, efficient, and safer home experience for your family.