Rob Mann has worked in computer technology for 23 years and presently works as an IT consultant. He is married to his wife, Jennifer, and they have two sons, Corbin and Ian.

Plugged in. That's what many of us are today. I include myself in that assessment. I love gadgets and new technology. Whether it's smart phones, tablets, computers, or any newfangled gizmo that gives me a constant flow of information and entertainment, I am definitely plugged in.

But as a parent, I've discovered my children are equally as plugged in, if not more so. They like to play online video games and watch their favorite videos on You Tube and Netflix. They also use the computer for school and homework needs. But being so connected isn't always best and there are times when my kids (and I) need to unplug and come back to real life. Sound familiar?

To assist with unplugging, there are several technologies available that can monitor, limit, and even turn off your access to the Internet. One such device is the Circle with Disney. The guys at Circle partnered with Disney to offer parents a little more control over how their children use the Internet. For a little more than a month, I've had this small, cube-shaped device connected to my Internet router. It actively monitors and records every connection my family makes to the Internet. Web surfing, gaming, social media, movie streaming - all traces of online activity are archived to the manufacturer-provided "cloud" server. With this monitoring, comes the ability (que my maniacal dad laughter) to limit or block my kids' connections. Junior's bed time is at 9 o'clock? No problem! The Circle will cut off his device's ability to access the Internet precisely at 9 p.m., all the while leaving my connection alone so my wife and I can stream a late night movie. Do you wish that Junior be only allowed one hour of online access each day? Again, no problem for the Circle. Parents can set the daily quota to any time limit they want.

Every device that connects to your home router is monitored. You control all the activity and limits through the free smart phone Circle app (iOS only at this writing). If Junior's best friend brings his tablet for a sleepover and he connects to your wireless network, the Circle picks up the connection and alerts your phone. His tablet is now being monitored and is subject to your house rules of Internet usage (more maniacal laughter). No matter who is in the house, devices can be categorized per owner - Pre-K, Kid, Teen, Adult, and None. Each category automatically blocks or allows connections based on the presets to social media, gaming, shopping, videos, music, etc. - all of which can be overridden by the parent.

The Circle can be configured to monitor device usage wirelessly. This means that it doesn't need to be physically connected to your Internet router or modem. It can be hard wired via Ethernet cable directly to the router, if you choose. Another nice feature is the battery backup stored within the Circle. If you're tech savvy teen thinks all he has to do is unplug the power cord to the unit, it will keep operating normally and will continue to monitor whether configured wirelessly or hard wired. The unit is continually being updated automatically with new features so there's no maintenance on your part. In addition, since your Circle is associated with Disney, you have access to some free kid-friendly and family-oriented online Disney content for everyone to enjoy.

Having the Circle in our home certainly doesn't replace the need for responsible Christian parenting, but it certainly is a super tool to aid in the constant bombardment our families face in this 21^st-century world of technology. For more information about Circle with Disney, please visit https://meetcircle.com/. Circle with Disney is advertised at $99.00.