My mom often talks about how different things were ‘back in the old days’ before technology was what it is today or even how it was when I was a child, the age of Atari and Nintendo. My almost 3-year old daughter can turn on my iPhone, scroll through the apps, select the one she wants to play, choose a character or browse my photos to use as her avatar, and appropriately play the game. My mom cannot figure out how to check missed calls on her phone.
That said, as parents, it is crucial that even when our children are very young, we monitor their Internet usage. This is why websites like Kids Email are so important. This is the perfect way to allow your child to have an email address, but monitor it closely, especially for inappropriate content sent to your child (we all know how horrible some of those SPAM emails can be). It’s very simple to get started!
- Visit kidsemail.org
- Parents register their family under their personal email address. For example, my email is huppiemama@gmail.com, so that is the email I used to register my family.
- From there, enter your child’s (children’s) name(s). This will create a unique email: name@kidsemail.org. You will also choose your child’s password and display name.
- Next, you can edit your child’s safety settings. This feature allows you to create a specific contact list that your child can email, get a copy of email messages sent to you, allow attachments, and various other features.
- You can also set various other settings, like place time restraints on when your child can check email and block certain emails. It also differentiates between ‘child login’ and ‘teen login.’
Overall, this is a great product for families, especially for younger children who are just learning to use email (perhaps ages 5 – 12). It creates a safe interface for children to send and receive email to friends and family, without parents having to fear inappropriate content is being sent or received. It’s a good way for children to practice learning to write letters to people who they know. There’s also a Kids Email app you can download to your iPhone or android phone, making it convenient to check email from just about anywhere!
If you are interested in registering for Kids Email, they offer a FREE 30-day trial, no credit card required. Simply visit the site and click on the TRY IT FREE! tab.
You can also learn more about Kids Email on twitter and Facebook.
*I received a 6-month free trial and PayPal credit for writing this review. The opinions expressed are my honest thoughts about this product.
