Navigating arrangements for children and ensuring their lives remain unaffected as possible after separation can be difficult. In today’s fast paced world, technology has woven itself into almost every aspect of our lives including how we approach parenting and apps can provide a focused method of communication which is solely about the children.

What is a parenting app

Parenting apps have become essential tools that help parents navigate the challenges of childcare while facilitating effective communication between separated parents. These apps promote cooperation, reduce conflicts and enhance co-parenting relationships.

Co-parenting frequently presents unique challenges especially when tensions run high between parents. Ideally, both parents would be aligned but coordinating childcare schedules often requires extra effort. Misunderstandings can quickly develop, leading to conflicts that impact not only the parents but also the children.

Parenting apps are valuable tools that can be used anytime. If you are involved in legal proceedings, the judge may require the parties to communicate through a parenting app when there is conflict or disagreement, prioritizing the welfare of the children involved.

The apps are not designed for continuous communication but offer key features such as:

Development tracking

Many apps allow parents to monitor a child’s growth and development by tracking milestones such as height, weight and cognitive skills. For low conflict parenting Cozi is marketed as an organising tool for busy families.

Educational resources and calendars

Some have calendars so that you can input key dates or the time that the child is due to spend with each parent. Some apps offer access to educational games and activities which can help parents engage with their child. They also allow parents to give access and assign specific rights to children, family members and others as appropriate. You can also send important documents, keep each other informed about clothes and shoe sizes, send receipts and some even have the option to request reimbursements. However, if you would like to use it simply for communication, you can do so. 2Houses and WeParent are useful all-rounders for this.

Tone meter technology

For high conflict situations where communication is difficult the OurFamilyWizard App offers a variety of resources. An integrated feature is the Tone Meter which automatically picks up negative language used in messages and suggests alternatives.

The app is designed to assist parents in high-conflict situations by minimizing friction caused by miscommunication and misunderstandings. It provides a clear yet indirect way to communicate. Features include read receipts and login history to eliminate ambiguity and prevent tampering with records. Additionally, users can check in at changeover locations and track parental expenses.

Quality control

Not all apps are created equal, parents should carefully research and select apps that are reputable, have positive reviews, and provide accurate information. Some apps do not share your mobile number, email or address. Additionally, certain apps offer pop-up messages encouraging parents to reconsider the language they use, which is especially important in situations involving high conflict or domestic abuse between parents.

What will it cost?

It is important to note that whilst some apps will come with a cost, fee exemptions may be available and some require no fee at all. AppClose for example requires no fee where as OurFamilyWizard (at the time of writing) starts at £107.99 for the year.  If you want the app to have additional features, it is likely this will come with a cost, however always check online to see whether there is a fee exemption form.

How can we help?

Where to start can be daunting, if you need advice on parenting apps, separation or child contact issues please call us on 01492 685462