The spinning world of technology knows no age.  Even kids nowadays are well aware of using social networking platforms, even when they are prohibited and/or under 18 years old.  The scope of influence of the internet is immeasurable, as anyone can go online now, anytime, anywhere with mobile devices. The world saw how a 10-year old whiz kid was able to hack and Android app at DefCon 2011. Like it or not, in this day and age, smartphones and internet are two primary drivers of learning and communication for your children.  Along with this reality are “techier” responsibilities for parents to ensure proper use of technology.

The uprising of the mobile industry has radiated across varied generations.  For this reason, a number of companies have realized the need to develop applications for kids that will promote learning, literacy and assist parents in discreetly monitoring their children, especially with opening of classes nearing.  Here we look at some services and apps that can help parents during this back-to-school transition, keeping everyone safe as mobile and the personal cloud continue to take hold in our lives.

Code9: Parental Control Smartphone App

Children with smartphones is a standard sight these days, and monitoring their activity can be quite a challenge.  Code9 mobile creates an app to connect parents to their children’s mobile lives without completely invading their privacy and agitating the rebellious minds of adolescents and teenagers.

A Pew report has revealed that 60% of today’s kids send SMS during classroom hours, 25% have been bullied or harassed over the phone and 15% have received sexting images from friends or acquaintances.  The figures have inspired the company to build components that will hopefully improve the current scenario.  These include real-time location tracking via GPS, filtering and analysis of keywords, enabled access to mobile app download history, set curfews, block calls and texts from certain numbers and run a comprehensive report on all activities that took place in your kids’ mobile phones.

Flat Stanley: Literacy and Community Building Campaign

The Flat Stanley project is already a mainstream occurrence, especially for those who have school-age children.  It has risen to popularity as the community that promotes international literacy among students, teachers and families, with no less than President Obama endorsing it.  Flat Stanley has recently launched an iPhone app that will make the project more mobile and social.  Also, it hopes to be a social networking platform for parents and children.  Along with the release of this new app is the announcement of the new venture, Flatter World, and Dale Hubert, creator of the Flat Stanley project, has joined this undertaking.  A video demo for the mobile app is seen here.

SugarSync: Cloud for Parents

With the cloud being one of the most talked about aspects of the tech sphere, SugarSync crafts a cloud service that is dedicated to easy file-sharing.  As the cloud can be a new and exciting wonder, SugarSync has also extended Cloud U, where various aspects of the cloud are broken down for curious minds.  For back-to-school time, SugarSync has published The Cloud for Parents, serving as a platform that tracks the post-academe schedule of their little ones, plan the next family holidays, allows you to share life’s experiences in real-time, create a photo book, secures a handy shopping list and creates genealogical bonds with members that may be a thousand miles away.

The modern age somehow dictates that parents are to be more appeased with technology to catch up with their children, or at least meet them halfway.  This gave birth to iParents. Yes, mom and dad are also in Facebook and Twitter.  Being on social networking sites and smartphones allow them to bond with their aloof kids or do background checks on their friends and status.