PBS Kids is releasing a new app that lets parents keep track of how much time kids watch TV and what they are watching.
The app, called PBS Kids Super Vision, summarizes what the kid is watching or playing on the website, and allows parents to set a timer that will pause the content when it is time to leave the screen, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Parents can use full-screen messages such as "break time," "time to eat" and school time" to pause games and shows.
"Parents have told us for a while now that they want to know, 'What did my kid play? What did they learn?'" said Sara DeWitt, digital vice president of PBS. "That's why we built Super Vision- to answer those questions and give parents tools to reinforce what their kids are learning."
The app also offers parents tips and activity ideas that are related to their children's interests, PC Magazine reported.
Parents will have to enter a unique pairing code from the PBS website into their phones to keep track of their kids' activities. The app can connect to any device that the kid is using. Since the connection doesn't need physical proximity, parents can keep track of their kids' screen time from any location.
DeWitt said the company plans to eventually update the app so it can be used with PBS's other apps, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The company is also planning to release an Android version of Super Vision. The app can be downloaded for free in Apple's iOS App Store.
PBS is a non-profit organization that offers many web-based apps and activities for kids, Forbes reported. Super Vision is one of the company's two apps designed especially for the kids, the other one being PBS Parents Play & Learn, which gives parents simple activities they can use to help their kids learn more from PBS's apps, videos and games.
A spokesperson said that the company is looking to update Super Vision after it receives feedback from parents.
