Guest Post:

As a parent, you know that gone are the days where your kids play outside for hours and you have to practically beg them to come inside for dinner. Instead, our teens are glued to their smartphones and other new gadgets  and let’s be honest, sometimes it’s hard to compete with the hottest new technology. Although you won’t beat technology, you can use it to your advantage with your teenager. Swap good grades for a new gadget, chores for more time on their device, and even integrate technology into your family game nights. Let’s take a look at some of the best gadgets for teens that are reasonable, affordable and parent-approved. 

Galaxy Note 8 

The need for a smartphone is almost a requirement nowadays with everything moving almost completely into the online space, and this is especially true for teens. This is because the way teens interact and communicate with the world is almost all online. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 94 percent of teenagers who go online on a mobile device do so daily. Teens use their phones to search the web, connect with others via social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat) and share personal information online. This can be scary for parents since it’s hard to monitor everything your child does online. 

The good news is, is that you can decide the right smartphone for your teen that fits your budget and your rules. Smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note8 are affordable and give your teen everything he or she needs in one device. It also allows you to set up parental controls and create user profiles for kids to avoid in-app and game purchases, access to adult content and potential online predators. This will give you peace of mind, and ensure that your teens are still able to have fun on their mobile devices without getting into trouble. 

Nintendo Switch

Gaming sometimes has held a bad reputation for keeping your kids locked in their room, addicted to playing a violent or inappropriate video game. But luckily, the cool new Nintendo Switch is designed to encourage kids to get out and play anytime, anywhere. The Switch can transform from a home console to a portable handheld system instantly.This means your kids can go interact with their friends outside while playing Mario Kart on their cool new game console. As stated before, you can use technology to your advantage. Need some extra help around the house? That means more chores = more game time. You can also use it to bring the family together. That’s right, you can simply by a Joy-Con controller and get up to four or more players to get your teens to participate in a new and improved family game night. The Nintendo switch is a great addition to your home for your teen and the whole family. 

Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet

With everything moving to mobile, sometimes teens have to use a laptop or computer for homework, projects and other school activities. But computers can be pricey, especially if you’re looking for something with updated technology. Luckily, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet is under $100 but still has all of the bells and whistles. It has 16GB of storage and 12 hours of battery life. Teens can hold up to 1,000 electronic books on their tablet as well as play games, download apps, watch streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, browse the internet, and access all of their social media platforms. Another amazing parent-friendly feature is the Amazon FreeTime Parental Controls, which allows you to set daily time limits, required passwords, and even a curfew schedule. Once you’ve set-up passwords, you can restrict your teens from purchasing apps, browsing certain websites, access to email, social media sharing, connecting to WiFi and other specific content. You’ll be happy knowing your kids are safe and your kids will feel like rock stars with their very own tablets.

With gadgets like these, you can keep your kids safe on the web, keep them up-to-date with the coolest technology and even save yourself some money in the process. It’s truly a win for everyone.