PBS Kids is launching a new application that keeps parents tuned in to what their kids are watching and how much time they're spending in front of the screen.
Called the PBS Kids Super Vision app, the free feature gives a summary of the child's activity on the site and also lets parents set a timer that will basically put the site on sleep mode when it's time to step away from the screen, Re/code reported. It launched Thursday for Apple's iPhone and iPad and also integrates with a home browser after users input a unique code.
Super Vision was developed after PBS held focus group meetings with parents, PBS Kids Digital Vice President Sara DeWitt told Re/code. While parents appreciate the educational aspect to the PBS site, they want to know more about what their kids are actually learning.
"They want their kids to play on the computer. They feel that's important, they like PBS.org, but they feel a little guilty," DeWitt told Re/code. "As screens get smaller and more mobile, they have less insight into what [their children] are doing."
The app gives a detailed summary of each video, including title, clip length and synopsis as well as a suggestion of a parent and child activity that would go along with the content.
"That's the kind of thing that the app does for you, it gives the parent a little bit more information about what the child saw and what they were learning from the show," Abby Jenkins, a mother of two and a PBS employee who had early access to the app, told Re/code.
"The kids know that there are rules, and when the show is over that's enough--but I like having that reinforcement," Jenkins noted.
The new app was also demonstrated to Wired, which reported that the function to monitor screen time was well done.
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