It’s a new year which means many of us have made big promises to ourselves. As parents though getting our lives into some sort of organized chaos can seem nearly impossible. Here are three apps that will help you master your new year’s resolutions.
KoalaSafe
iPhone / Android – $99koalasafe.com
If you are committed to keeping your kids” Minecraft/social media/web surfing time to a minimum in 2016, KoalaSafe will help you do that. Set up the router ($99) to create a kid-safe wireless network, install the smartphone app on your device and now you, the parent, have full control. You can block social sites and apps, track usage or set up a schedule that automatically turns Internet access off after a certain time. It’s not cheap, but it may be a lifesaver for parents looking to regain control of their kids” screen time without the constant battles.
Cozi
iPhone / Android / Web – Freecozi.comThere are plenty of calendar apps, grocery list apps and recipe apps. Cozi is all of those packaged in one easy app. It’s not new, but it’s still my favorite for an all-in-one hub for mom or dad to keep tabs on family life. The entire family shares one account so if mom updates the grocery list or the soccer practice start time, dad sees the change immediately.
Pepperplate
iPhone / Android / Web – Free
pepperplate.comMeal planning for a family saves money, saves time and saves headaches. Problem is, it can be a lot of work. The Pepperplate app can pull recipes from your favorite websites or your personal collection and help you design your week of meals. It will also create a shopping list for you based on the meals you’re planning to cook. Worth a try for any parent trying to get family dinnertime under control in 2016.
Kirk Yuhnke is the father of two, a self-admitted tech geek and the morning weekday anchor on Fox31 Denver’s Good Day Colorado.
