Screen Time lets parents keep track of kids' tablet and smartphone use

For U.S. families concerned about the influx of gadgets and tech overindulgence amid seasonal giving, the Screen Time app provides a solution for parents hoping to avoid arguments and ultimately ensure their kids have a balance of online and offline activities.

According to the Consumer Technology Association, 68% of American consumers plan to purchase devices as gifts - with U.S. spending on tech projected to reach a record-breaking $36.05 billion during the 2016 holiday season.

Tech habits have become a hot topic in the U.S. with the recent release of the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated screen time guidelines for children - something many parents will consider when resolving to establish healthier lifestyle habits in the new year.

The Screen Time device-management app makes it easy for parents to keep track of kids' tablet and smartphone use - helping children benefit from tech without missing out on meaningful offline activities such as hobbies, sports and socialization. And that's by design.

After consistently watching his eldest son leave family gatherings to "plug in" elsewhere, tech engineer Steve Vangasse built Screen Time - hoping the app would foster balance, family time and offline discovery for his own household. It worked, and now its helping families around the world.

The app features include:

- Daily Time Limits: Empower kids to manage their daily screen time allowance

- Schedule Blocking: Protect learning and rest by blocking devices during school and bedtime hours

- Pause & Play: Pause devices or grant extra time for good behavior

- Task Management: Let completed tasks drive bonus screen time

- Daily Reporting: Email summaries of online activity