You can’t be everywhere all at once, but smart home devices can sometimes make it seem like you are.
Here are four ways
Leandra Wills, a mother of two in Colorado, often lets her kids, ages 10 and 13, walk home from school by themselves. She knows it takes them only about 10 minutes, and these days, she knows when they’ve made it, thanks to their
The Google Home app on the phone also allows you to manage smart home locks. This means that you can lock and unlock your home physically and remotely, giving you peace of mind when it comes to looking after your children and your home.
“My kids know the dog needs to go out for a walk every afternoon around 4 p.m., but a gentle reminder never hurts,” says Katy Chapman, whose kids are 11 and 14, and who has
You can also set up
Kids and screens can be a tricky combination. And when you’re not there, you may want to make sure your kids aren’t spending endless hours on games and videos. The Nest
For example, you can manage your Wi-Fi remotely from the Google Home app, ahead of time or in the moment. Create internet breaks by pausing access to select devices either on demand or according to a schedule, so your kids can’t be on their screens when you’re expecting them to be doing homework or practising an instrument. Nest Wi-Fi settings also allow you to
Parents can also use the
“I use it to set limits on certain apps, like TikTok, and if the girls want more time, or new apps, I can approve or deny that request from my phone using the smart home ecosystem,” says Jane Ryan, a New Jersey mum to two teenage daughters. Ryan says even when she’s not in the room with her girls, she feels she can use the Nest ecosystem to help them make good choices.