Nothing gets a kid more excited these days than technology. There are a lot of great uses for tech these days, from communication and learning to entertainment and socializing. However, technology also presents a number of dangers and concerns that parents should be wary of.

As a parent, you'll need to teach your kids about "stranger danger" on the internet as well as healthy boundaries. You'll also want to keep tabs on your children while still getting them acquainted with technology. Luckily, being safe does not mean you have to deprive your family of cool gear. Here's how you can make your kids tech savvy while keeping them safe:

Look at Products Made for Children

Good news for parents: There's a good selection of tech products made specifically for children. These products are designed for the needs of both kids and parents. They're safe while still being useful and entertaining.

For example, you can choose a phone made just for kids. Look no further than the kids smartphone offered by Gabb Wireless. Kids can connect with friends and family with talk-and-text plans without having access to the internet or even an app store. This helps parents keep tabs on their children while still providing them with new responsibilities and youthful opportunities.

Tech built for children also makes for good stepping stones when building up to more advanced pieces of tech. A limited children's smartphone is a much better way to introduce your kids to technology than the latest iPhone model.

Choose Tech With Boundaries

Unfortunately, tech products for kids can be limited. However, tech companies have enabled a number of safety and monitoring features into even their most popular devices. If tech isn't designed and marketed specifically for kids, it still might have all the settings and protections you desire.

The universal term for technology safety settings is parental controls. This allows parents to set specific guidelines on a device and protect them with a password. This will restrict kids from accessing apps, websites, TV shows, and more without parental guidance and permission.

Consider Using Tracking Features

One of the greatest tech features available today is GPS tracking. This is the use of satellites to pinpoint the exact location of a piece of tech. This usually means you can also determine the exact location of your child assuming they have their device on hand.

That said, GPS tracking shouldn't be an excuse to track your child's every move. Kids can get defensive and extra secretive if they feel like you're always hovering and watching them 24/7. GPS should be used primarily as a safety net and at times for reassurance. For example, if your child forgets to text you when they get to school, GPS lets you know they arrived safely.

Stay Transparent

Your kids will almost certainly hate this one, but it's effective nonetheless. Any time your child has a password or an account associated with a piece of tech, you should have access to the information. The reasons behind this are twofold.

First, as the responsible parent you have a right to know what your kids are up to. This doesn't mean you'll read every text message your kid sends. It does mean if you get a bad feeling about recent behavior, you'll be able to check-in.

Second, knowing your parents have access to your account will cause you to be on your best behavior. You never know when a parent might want to log in and access your device. This way kids will live their digital lives with nothing to hide.

Download Apps

If you can't find a direct way to incorporate GPS tracking or parental controls, check out the app store. Apple devices can use an app called Find My to keep track of family and friends that enable permission. Snapchat also lets you see the general area that your friends are within certain restrictions.

Other apps include Family Link, which allows parents to exhibit control over their kids' accounts. Parents can go as far as set limits for device usage and even schedule devices to lock at a certain time. This prevents kids from becoming addicted to their devices or trying to sneak in some extra screen time.

Limit Connectivity

Not every piece of technology you buy for your kids has to connect to the internet. The web is the most difficult place to keep tabs on your children. It is also one of the most dangerous. It won't hurt to limit their connectivity until they mature a little more and improve their decision-making.

Items such as a smartwatch are a great starting point for kids to get connected in a safe way. Many smartwatches can send text messages, contain apps such as a calculator and step counter, and can even make calls. They'll have all the perks of a smartphone without the browser app.

You can also step into safe gaming as a way to introduce your child to tech before they go online. Online games are incredibly popular but can expose young children to cyberbullying and even predatory behavior. Start your child's gaming journey using games that don't require an internet connection to be played. Offline games can be just as fun, especially when shared with some local friends.

Connect Emotionally

The most important way you can keep tabs on your kids is by staying connected to them emotionally. Don't let technology push you apart. Technology should be used to enhance your lives, not tear them apart.

Regularly talk to your children about their technology use and then move into deeper topics, too. Become invested in their ambitions and interests. When your kids trust you, they'll be much more open when talking about their tech usage.

You can also use tech as a way to strengthen your bond. When your kid gets a new smartphone, send them some text messages from time to time. Wish them good luck on an upcoming test or send them a funny meme. You might even get a response from your angsty tween or teen!