Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Limiting screen time second to learning healthy balance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
unGlue Kids
What's It About?
To use UNGLUE KIDS, first download unGlue, the companion parent app, and set up a parent account. Set up your child's account with name, age, and grade level. Choose the "Entertainment Time" limit per day. Then set up your child's "Time Bank Limits" and "Internet Time" (hours the internet is available each day). Watch the parent video to explain how to talk to your kid about using unGlue. Then have your kid walk through the setup process on unGlue Kids. The two apps will connect, and unGlue will begin to track your kid's time.
Is It Any Good?
Though using tech to fight tech often backfires, this pair of apps can serve more as a learning tool with the right parent involvement. If parents present it more as a way for the whole family to have healthy habits -- and parents walk the walk as role models -- unGlue can help kids become aware of how much time they're spending on various forms of media and learn to balance their time. By earning screen time with offscreen activities like reading and chores, kids are rewarded for doing other positive activities while they're earning something that this app restricts: more screen time. Of course, any tech-savvy kids can likely get around unGlue, and any parent in a pinch may bend the rules to add more time under pressure. For unGlue to work well, parents will likely need to reinforce why family rules around media consumption are important and get kids on board with open dialogue, and walk the fine line between being consistent yet flexible with their kids' screen time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how unGlue can help your kid become more aware of how they spend their screen time. Reviewing how much time they spend daily with various forms of media may surprise some kids.
Read Common Sense Media's Screen Time parent concerns to learn more about setting guidelines that work for your family.
Any tech-savvy kids can likely get around unGlue, if they so choose. Talk to your kid about why it's important to respect family rules and not try to foil the digital tools -- such as content filters or app's like unGlue -- that you as a parent find important for them to have in place.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : decision-making , Self-Direction : goal-setting , self-reflection , time management , work to achieve goals , Emotional Development : self-awareness , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Pricing structure : Free ($11.99/month for premium features)
- Release date : July 20, 2017
- Genre : Lifestyle
- Publisher : unGlue Inc.
- Version : 2.6.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 9.0 or later; Android 4.4 and up
- Last updated : March 5, 2019
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