Foxtel app allows kids to stream the best of children’s entertainment

THE iPAD can be both a blessing and a burden when it comes to parenting. Now, there’s help for those who want to control their kids’ screen time.

Foxtel’s launch of the Kids App allows parents to be more involved with what their kids watch, and for how long. Picture: Keryn Stevens.

MOBILE devices can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to parenting.

They can provide an educational platform, and a few moments reprieve from entertaining the kids on the weekend, after school and during holiday periods.

But with kids spending more time attached to a screen, parents also know too much time attached to devices comes at a cost.

So, in an attempt to put control back in the hands of parents, Foxtel’s newest Kids app gives parents the option of controlling screentime, and kids the ability to surf and stream their favourite programs.

The Foxtel kids app allows parents to take control on how much screentime kids have on portable devices.

From Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Disney Channel and Disney Junior, the new app launched in December just ahead of the summer holidays.

Available for free to customers who have a Foxtel subscription, the app allows kids to watch content from the kid-friendly channels available in a Foxtel package.

It allows users the option of offline viewing to downloaded children’s content — which is a handy tool to help occupy kids during long drives, flights or holidays spent away from internet connections.

The app also gives parents ease-of-mind that their kids are watching child-friendly content, without the risk of venturing into more adult-friendly on-demand television shows.

The app also allows parents complete control of their child’s screen time, by creating a timer that switches off the show after a certain amount of time.

According to paediatricians and psychologists, too much screen time can have a negative impact on young developing brains, by diminishing their ability to concentrate, develop empathy, and read social cues.

But monitoring how much screen time your children have access to can be a challenge.

The Foxtel Kids app lets subscribers download shows for offline use on road trips or flights.

Foxtel spokesman Nicola Meek, who helped create the service, said concern over screen time was one of the driving forces behind developing the app.

“It’s also a guaranteed safe space for kids to watch appropriate content,” Ms Meek said.

“Parents are keen to help their children manage screen time so we’ve focused on that, not only in terms of quality and appropriateness but also the length of viewing.

“This can be managed via our in app timer, which can be set for as little as 10 minutes up to a max of 120 minutes.

The Foxtel Kids app lets subscribers download shows for offline use on road trips or flights.

“Once the time is up the screen will lock and display a very cute monster falling asleep, and the app cannot be used again without entering a parental pin, even if the child exits the app or turns the device off and back on again.

“This gives parents maximum control.”

The interfaces on the app also allow parents to cater for their child’s age group. The first is aimed at preschoolers, the second is for older children and the third option caters for both — which is ideal of a parent with mixed age groups.

The other handy feature is allowing the app’s “offline access” ability, which means kids can use their parents iPhone or tablet device without chewing through expensive data. This means that users don’t have access to live channels — instead, kids can check out video on demand.

Foxtel is 50 per cent owned by News Corp, who are a publisher of news.com.au.