Technology is everywhere. As parents, we have so many technological tools at our disposal to help us keep track of our kids’ progress, health, behavior, and just about everything else we can imagine.
It starts at a young age. There are devices that parents can use to monitor data about infants – devices like the Owlet sock can monitor things like heart rate and respiration from birth. As our kids get older, though, it’s important to use even more advanced tools if we want to get high-tech (and stay as informed as possible) in our parenting decisions.
Here are some data collection tools for high-tech parenting. They may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but take a look to see if any of these might help you improve your abilities (and confidence!) as a parent.
What Sorts of Data Collection Tools Are Helpful for Parents?
As a parent, there are a few different types of information you might want to monitor.
Some common types of data parents may want to gather include that which is related to:
- Behavior
- Organizational skills
- Physical activity
- Health and wellness
- Sleep
- Reading comprehension
- Mathematics skills
- Grades
- Communication with other stakeholders
Before deciding on the tool that’s right for you, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
First, what is it that I want to monitor? The behaviors above are helpful starting places but that’s certainly not an exhaustive list of all the information you might possibly want to collect.
You can collect all kinds of data, but if you don’t have a clear idea of how you are going to use that data (or why you are collecting it in the first place), you’re really just going to be wasting your time.
What sorts of methods would you like to use to collect that information? Will it require your child to self-report information or will it collect data automatically? How will you implement the tool in your day to day routine?
Finally, is the data you are collecting being gathered somewhere else already, such as at school or in a medical setting? If so, you might be better off paying attention to other types of information instead. You’ve already got that box checked off!
11 Data Collection Tools for High-Tech Parenting
Here are some of the best data collection tools for high-tech parenting. Give them a try!
FYI: Life Skills Advocate is not affiliated with any of the tools listed below. Our recommendations are not driven by commissions or kickbacks. We only promote products we actually use or those which have been vetted by the greater community of individuals, families and professionals who support those with diverse learning needs.
1. ClassDojo
Trying to find a way to stay in touch with your child’s teachers, and vice versa? ClassDojo can help.
Although there are plenty of apps and tools out there that collect academic data like grades and test scores, Class Dojo is different. It can be used to track those, but it’s more often used to keep parents informed on student behavior.
If you’re trying to implement a behavior management plan for your child, ClassDojo is a super helpful tool that will make it easier for you to stay in the loop.
2. Circle
Sick of wondering how much time your child is truly spending on his laptop or tablet? The good news is that there are tools out there that can not only monitor how much time your child is spending on a screen, but can also cap that time automatically, too.
Circle, a program by Disney, is one such example. It can be used to manage the tech time of everyone in the family and you can even provide access to or block certain websites. You’ll be able to collect data on your child’s tech time and use it to inform parenting decisions around this hot button issue, too.
3. Fitbit Ace 3
As a parent, there’s a good chance that you rely on tech tools like fitness wearables to help you keep your health and wellness goals. If you want to collect information on how much your child is moving or perhaps even more importantly, sleeping, investing in a high-tech device like a Fitbit might be a smart choice.
Fitbit Ace 3 is one of the most affordable (and most basic) options that Fitbit produces. It has a soft band and monitors all activity, including sleep. It can sync to an app that you have on your phone so you know if your child is getting (or more importantly, isn’t getting) the sleep they need.
4. FamiSafe
If you’re concerned about what your child is doing online and you want to be able to collect information about his online activities, FamiSafe is a great option. Not only does it let you know the exact location of your child at all times with the built-in tracker but it also keeps a log of online activities from texts, emails, social media, and other mobile functions.
5. EPIC!
EPIC! is an app that can serve a number of purposes. Not only does this mobile app award badges to kids for reading books, but it offers up a variety of texts that families can sit down and enjoy together.
Most importantly, this reading app can serve as a valuable data collection tool for high-tech parenting. It saves information on your child’s progress as he is reading independent books.
6. ReadingLog
ReadingLog is another app that parents can use to encourage daily reading. It has a stopwatch and can log the amount of time spent reading – it even has a database that can store all of the book titles that have been read.
If your child has set himself a SMART goal related to reading, you won’t find a better app than this one.
7. You-Log Reading
One more tool that parents can use to collect data on reading progress is . This app logs books by barcode scan, Google search or manual entry. It allows kids to set reading goals and monitors their progress while also keeping track of the page’s genres, and minutes read.
The information will even be aggregated into a user-friendly format for you, processed into pie charts and color-coded bar graphs to illustrate your child’s progress. It even has a built-in note taker so your child can use the information to write book reports.
8. LiftEd App
If you are a parent to a child with unique learning needs, there’s a good chance that much of your day is spent tracking information related to behavior management. The LiftEd app simplifies much of that data collection.
Not only can this app be used to collect information to improve your child’s learning, but it can also improve your communication with other stakeholders, like parents. It’s built specifically for parents, educators, and paraprofessionals who work with children with unique learning needs.
9. Synergy SE
Synergy SE is a bit more advanced, but again, if your child has diverse learning needs, there’s a good chance that you are looking for any kind of tool to make data collection a bit more streamlined and less onerous.
This tool can help track your child’s progress toward annual goals and has visual timelines that make data collection easy. It also has an online learning center and can generate plenty of built-in reports.
10. Digit
Digit is an app that you can use with your child to set savings goals. It allows them to save for different things at different times – and its intelligent algorithms will help you keep track of how well your child is progressing toward his goals, too.
11. Skyward
Skyward is one more tool that parents can use to collect and analyze data about their kids. The app brings together multiple services within one student’s portfolio of support systems, including health services, behavior management, and academics.
Tips for Using Data Collection Tools in Your Parenting
It’s no secret that parenting can be tough – but having the right information can help you be a more informed parent.
If you’re going to use these tech tools, it’s important that you get your kids on board.
Communication is key. If your child wants to have a smartphone and you want to be able to monitor what your child is doing with one of the tech time tools listed above, you shouldn’t start using it unless your child knows that you are doing so.
Failing to inform your child that you are gathering this information may lead to some trust issues that will be hard to reverse later on.
It’s important that clear boundaries and expectations are set early on. Be sure to openly monitor your child and check in often about his or her progress, regardless of whatever it is you are collecting data on.
Motivation can dramatically change your child’s progress toward goals, making your data collection efforts more rewarding in the long run. Whether you’re working on daily living skills or something else, make sure you’re pairing your data collection with real results.
There’s no point in collecting data, after all, if you aren’t going to use that information to guide your child’s progress in the future.
How Does Technology Affect Parenting?
Although the data collection tools mentioned above can be helpful as you become a more effective and supportive parent, it’s important to note that no type of technology will ever be able to take the place of solid parenting. As a parent, you may also choose to avoid technology in all aspects of their parenting. However, that’s not the case for most people – up to 50% of all children use the Internet daily by age 5.
And if tech isn’t your thing? Don’t sweat it. There are plenty of other ways you can keep track of your child’s progress, such as these sample data collection sheets.
Further Reading
- Life Skills Advocate – How to Evaluate Your Teens Daily Living Skills
- Life Skills Advocate – How to Use SMART Goal Setting to Teach Daily Living Skills
- Life Skills Advocate – Teaching Unique Learners About Saving for Long Term Purchases
- Child Trends – Home Computer Access and Internet Use