3 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Period Tracking App for your Daughter
Your daughter has just started her period, and she wants to be prepared for her next cycle. Although it could take up to a year for her cycle to regulate, a period tracking app is an easy way for her to monitor her monthly cycle.
Since there are so many Cycle apps to choose from, finding the right app for your daughter boils down to how you feel about access to adult content, what features you think are important, and the fees involved with the app. A little research on your part, may make the ebb and flow of the menstrual cycle a bit more manageable.
What Should You Consider?
There are many Period apps to choose from. Here are 3 things to consider before setting her up with an app:
- Adult Content
Most Cycle Tracking apps were created with adult women in mind. They have features to track fertility, sexual activity, and the pill. You should look at the specific features for the app before purchasing. Can you toggle off chat functions? Do you want the app to track her fertility window?
For example:
The Flo Period Tracking App has a secret chat function where you can connect with the Flo community about sensitive topics. This may appear helpful, but some of the content is explicit.
Clue Period Cycle Tracker has a “party” option that allows you to track drinks, drugs, and cigarettes.
However, some of the apps allow you to disable adult features:
My Calendar Period Tracker App (Google Play) has a feature where you can disable the fertility, intercourse, and pill info.
The MagicGirl Teen Period Tracker is the only app created for young girls. For an extra charge, there are parental controls in this app to disable some of the adult features.
This might work for the first few years, but then she may outgrow it. Do you want an app that she can use long-term? Possibly stick with one of the apps that allows disabling of adult content (like My Calendar Period Tracking App).
- Simplicity
Perhaps, since this is all so new and a bit overwhelming for your daughter, simplicity is what you are seeking.
Easy Period-Lite Tracker: literally only tracks your period, nothing else. So, this is like a basic wall calendar in app form. It alerts you when your period may be arriving. No fluff. No chat or community function.
The iPhone health app is also a place where they can track their period. It is already on an iphone, no need to download an app.
- Price
Many of the cycle apps are free. However, if you want to avoid ads, you need to pay either a one-time fee or a monthly subscription fee.
For example, MagicGirl Teen Period Tracker is free, but there is a $10 fee to access the parental controls.
Some of the apps have monthly subscription fees, which increase over time, so make sure you read the fine print.
Since there are so many Cycle apps to choose from, finding the right app for your daughter boils down to how you feel about access to adult content, what features you think are important, and the fees involved with the app.
I would recommend either the My-Calendar Period Tracking app (with fertility and ovulation tracker disabled) or The MagicGirl Teen Period Tracker. A little research on your part, may make the ebb and flow of the menstrual cycle a bit more manageable.
ALWAYS A FIRST STEP
This download is immediately available to you and will teach her all that she needs to know about the biology of her menstrual cycle. This will help her make sense of the Cycle app you select.
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