Planning on giving your kids an Android tablet or smartphones? Perhaps you want them to have a smartphone so they can get in touch with you? Either way, it’s a good idea to stay in control of how they use the device. Making calls is one thing — accessing inappropriate content, installing Apps, and running up large bills for in-app purchases is quite another.

On a desktop computer, you would employ parental control software to oversee your child’s activity, and the same is true for mobiles. Here we take a look at five parental control apps for Android, that you can use to unobtrusively and responsibly monitor your offspring’s mobile endeavors, ensuring that they are using the device safely and dependably.

Norton Family parental control

This app is developed by Norton Mobile. We all know that Norton is already an established brand in the Anti-Virus market. This is one of the better apps to track your kids’ online activities. You can track which web pages your kids visited or tried to visit. You can also block the inappropriate websites so that the kids cannot visit. A costumed e-mail service will notify you whenever your kid tries to visit a web page which he/ she should not visit. This app has a premier version which will provide better and additional features.

Kids Zone Parental Control

Describing itself as a “parental lock”, Kids Zone enables you to create a profile for your children and add suitable apps to it. Additionally, you can block calls and text messages, prevent Internet access and avoid clicks on adverts too.

With Kids Zone installed, children will be unable to install apps or make in-app purchases, and apps that have been installed that you don’t wish them to use — even ones aimed at children — can be blocked. Additionally, notifications, the home screen and system menus, and device settings can all be restricted from access by minors.

If you upgrade to the Pro version (in-app purchase), Kids Zone gives you the ability to create profiles for each child and a quick unlock feature for parents to use to answer incoming calls.

MM Guardian Parental Control

The MM Guardian Parental Control app allows you to block incoming calls and texts, monitor alarming texts and control which apps can be used and when on your child's smartphone.

In more extreme circumstances it also lets you locate and lock your child's phone using a text message, as well as set time restrictions to limit their use. You'll be able to get a daily report on your child's phone usage, so if their bill is high, you will be able to find out why and it will also allow you to set restrictions on the websites they can access.

Kid Mode

Kid Mode puts all your child’s favorite Android apps in one place also good for shared devices. With the app’s child lock feature, kids stay safely in Kid Mode – the app prevents accidental in-app purchases, deleted texts, or confusing ad clicks. Kid Mode comes with fun games and videos customized for every child’s age, an art studio where kids can paint, color and draw, illustrated storybooks that family members can read and record, a video mail feature that lets kids exchange short messages with family, weekly activity emails on what your kids have been playing and learning and more.

MamaBear App

MamaBear is your all-in-one family safety app providing parents information to worry less and encourage larger boundaries for kids to explore more. This app is especially good for kids that are first time smartphone users and new to social media. The app allows kids to keep parents updated with simple check in buttons with added emoticons, “Come Get Me” or “Emergency” notifications. MamaBear allows parents to know their child’s current and recent locations, setup arrival and departure alerts for places like school, home and practice or know when they exceed a preset driving speed. Our favorite feature is a time saver from trolling our kid’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Parents can set up alerts to monitor only the important stuff like new friends/follows, words on your programmed restricted words list, uploaded photos and tags.