Local parents of two Lisa and Clay Goldberg designed the growing app KidMix, which provides a new way for kids to connect with friends and plan their own playdates within a private, secure environment. KidMix allows kids to share their thoughts, photos and videos while parents monitor activity using the integrated parent dashboard. By using KidMix, parents are no longer burdened with the task of coordinating a playdate for their kids—they just have to approve a request.
What was the inspiration behind creating KidMix?
As parents of two active kids who regularly ask “Can I have a playdate?” or “What are we doing today?”, we began looking for a way for our kids to coordinate their own playdates with friends. When we discovered that didn’t exist, we decided to explore how younger kids are connecting online and realized there wasn’t a safe and secure platform available. We spent several weeks working on the KidMix concept. We then put our plan into action to create a safe platform for kids to connect with friends, plan playdates and better prepare themselves for the open social networks they will encounter as young adults. We launched about one year later.
Why do you think it is a good idea for parents to give kids more control over their own schedules?
In today’s society, it seems as if parents have little to no free time for themselves. They are constantly running around trying to manage their kids’ daily activities, their own activities and tasked with maintaining relationships with their friends and family. At the same time, kids have little control over their daily activities.
KidMix provides an easy way for kids to reach out to friends they wouldn’t normally see or talk to outside of school without parental involvement. Kids can schedule their own playdates on KidMix with a simple parent approval. The days of parents making the awkward phone call or blind texts to coordinate a playdate are over.
The integrated calendar allows kids to keep track of their schedules and manage their free time. KidMix empowers kids to be more independent and encourages them to have physical playtime with friends.
Are there security features in place?
KidMix’s registration process requires all parents to verify their I.D. before they can create a profile for their children. Once on the network, kids can only communicate with others who have verified, parent-created accounts. The KidMix app is a completely fenced-in environment as there are no external links or ways for kids to connect outside of the private network.
Parents monitor all of their child’s activities including friend connections, status updates, comments, direct messages, photos and playdates. Parents use the easy-to-navigate parent dashboard, which is available on the web or on the KidMix app. A weekly activity report is emailed to all parents for extra visibility.
KidMix also includes a reporting tool so our user community can quickly flag inappropriate content in status updates, photos or comments. This report is sent directly to their parents and the KidMix support team. We encourage kids to avoid cyber bullying and to be kind to each other.
Share some feedback you’ve received about the app.
So far, the families who are using KidMix are really excited to have a safe and private platform for their younger kids to communicate in. Several have mentioned how their kids love to plan playdates. It is quickly becoming a way for kids to learn how to interact on a social network without the risks of strangers communicating with them or viewing inappropriate material.
What age range do you recommend the app for?
We recommend that KidMix is used for kids 5-12.
KidMix membership is free, and parents oversee all communication from friends, groups, photos and invitations allowing for appropriate communication at all times. It can be downloaded on Google Play, Amazon or at the Apple Store. Learn more at the KidMix website.
