Nowadays, nearly every child goes online daily. If you think about it, even toddlers do when they’re watching shows on tablets. It’s wild to think that children are access to the same amount of information online as adults. It’s honestly terrifying at the same time, especially knowing that’s out there online.
Children, regardless of their age, are very impressionable, and since their brains soak up everything like a sponge, this also means that certain content, negative content, can have a very bad effect on them.
No parent wants to see their children harmed or badly affected by content that’s out there online. This is why you need to ensure that you’re child is safe when they go online. So, here is everything you need to know about keeping your little ones safe as they surf the web!
Start By Checking the Settings
For starters, you should always have parental control over your children’s devices if you can. Nowadays, most devices will have this option set up. On top of that, you will want to keep out for things you might not expect.
Hijacking just so happens to be a major one, so what is dns hijacking? This is when a website you or your child usually goes on directs you to something that it shouldn’t. It’s mostly due to malware but can also be due to other reasons.
So be sure to check the settings on the device as well as keep an open eye out for potential security threats.
Have a Talk with Your Kids
Just as your kids will need safety tips for school (or even a playground), they’re going to need safety tips (and a lecture) when it comes to being safe online.
When it comes to keeping your kids safe online, one of the best things you can do is talk to them. Start these conversations early and keep them consistent.
Explain to your children that the internet is a place where they can find many things, and some of it is not appropriate for them. It’s also important to teach them how to avoid unsuitable sites and cope with anything they do come across.
Monitor their Activity
It’s okay to monitor your child’s activity, and while there should be a balance of privacy versus keeping them safe, that boundary is going to be up to you. However, if they’re very young, it’s strongly encouraged to monitor them.
Why should you monitor them? Using these tools will help prevent your children from being victims of cyberbullying or accessing age-inappropriate content online. It’s also a good idea to talk to them about how to use the internet safely.
Don’t Be Afraid to Set Limits
Kids are exposed to a lot of media in their lives, so it’s important that they know how to use these tools responsibly. That means limiting screen time, monitoring their usage, and teaching them to be aware of what they see online. Limiting screen time isn’t easy, but it’s an essential step to protecting your kids.
If you can’t enforce a set amount, talk to your kids about it and find an agreement that works for you and them.
There’s more entertainment in the world than just being connected online, so it’s important to create limits.
