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Parenting Apps
Do you need a parenting app?
For us at GSVMS it is a no brainer YES you do! Other people may feel they do not need it since communication is great between both parents.
As of June 2024 GSVMS is aware of three parenting apps that the courts approve of. Each of these apps have in common is that nothing is delatable, everything is recorded and you do not need to seek approval to record when using the app since using the app is acceptance. Every action you do in the app is date and time stamped. Your personal email and phone number is revieled to the other party. Records are sorted and easily found.
Depending on what app and what plan you use, some are only web based, some are only mobile based and some are both web and mobile based. One app only allows two people to join and the other two allow parents to invite others to join with joint approval such as attorneys, other professionals, grandparents etc. All three have a shared calendar where each parent can post appoinments such as doctors, dentist etc., vacations, visit schedule, sport events, graduation etc., . All three allow documents, pictures to be uploaded.
On two of the apps there is a free version with limited ability and paid versions with more features. One app is totally free and has many of the features that come with the paid versions of the other two.
A great advantage of using one of these apps is that it stops either party from blowing up the other parties phone/email/texts, it helps keep conversations on track and civil. Nothing can be deleted and holds all parties to be accountable to respond in a timely and civil manner. More and more the courts are recommending one of these apps to be used by parents in regards parenting.
Below we have listed the three apps that we are aware of. Please research them before using one of them. Try to think ahead for the future as one app might be great now but will it be enough later on?
If after reviewing the below apps you are still confused as to which app you think will best suite your current and future needs, we would be more than happy to supply you with a pdf document quiz to further assist you in chosing.
Image is not Taliking Parents logo.
Image is AI generated
Talking Parents
www.talkingparents.com

This app only allows two people to join.
Talking Parents app has three plans (at the time of this article June 2024)
First Plan (Free):This plan is minimal, it has secure messaging and a shared calandar.
Second Plan (Paid): Secure messaging, Shared calandar, Accounting Payments, Info library and Access unlimited PDF records.
Third Plan (Paid): This plan offers the most features which include all from the free plan, second plan plus more which includes video and phone call recording abiltiy
All versions include the ability to hide your phone and email address, date and time stamp all you do in the app such as open, read, respond etc., when in the app and is non-erasable.
For the free app version you can only access this plan through the web. For the paid versions you can access through your mobile phone or the web.
Image is not Our Family Wizards logo - image is AI generated
Our Family Wizard (OFW)
www.ourfamilywizard.com

This app allows multiple parties to join once the parents have set up the account, either parent can invite additional parties to join, however both parties need to approve. You can invite your children and limit their input/viewing to such things as the shared calandar, each parent can communicate with their child through the app, if you are on Professional Supervised Visitations your provider can be invited to join to make the ease of coordinating visits, submitting reports and general communication, you can invite other professionals also.
OFW offers 4 paid plans. Three are set plans and one seems to be customablie. As in most plans the higher the monthly plan the more features you get, however, the Esstensial plan has some great features. If you wish to get a plan that will record audio and video calls this feature is only available in the top monthly plan
One unique feature to all it's plans is the "Communicate mindfully with real-time feedback from ToneMeter™"
Each parent will have to sign up and pay for the yearly subscription (though) one parent can pay for both subscriptions. Children and third party accounts associated with your account are free.
All versions include the ability to hide your phone and email address, date and time stamp all you do in the app such as open, read, respond etc., when in the app and is non-erasable.
You can access Our Family Wizard through your mobile phone or directly by loggin in to the website
Image is not Appclose logo.
It is AI generated
Appclose
www.appclose.com

Appclose has only one plan and it is free. It offers many of the same features as the top paying plans of the two Parenting apps that we have mentioned above.
While Appclose does not have the ability to record audio/video calls it does have the ability to date and time stamp calls that have been placed regardless of if the audio/video call was answered.
You can only access this plan by downloading the app to your smartphone.
All Parenting apps featured include the ability to hide your phone and email address, date and time stamp all you do in the app such as open, read, respond etc. When in the app and one is unable to erase anything once placed in the app.