Is there anything more unappealing than having dinner with someone who is constantly text and checking their phone.  Seriously what am I chopped liver?  Well if you are having trouble getting your family to set down the phone and talk with you the DinerTime App may be what you need. This new  and free app claims to be able to solve the problem - by locking their gadgets at meal times. When in use the free DinnerTime app shows your kids how long they have, then BAM! It locks their phone – and to stow the tantrum it even show them how long is left until they can leave the table.

Other uses for this app include:

  • 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

And more advanced versions 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.

Yes my friend it’s called parenting and you can be in the driver’s seat.

This app was created by Richard Sah, Co-Founder of DinnerTime, because he felt that his own kids were always distracted He also noteed that children can find technology addictive.  Ya Think?.

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.

The hopes of the apps creators is to give parents the tools to help them with the task of creating a healthy relationship for their children with technology.  The question left I guess is who’s gonna rein in dad?

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