Screen time combined with more leisure time for children might lead to problems. Of course, not every child will end up on an inappropriate website on purpose or by accident, but it still can happen. What can you then do? Although purchasing filtering software is a great start, there are some more daily actions you may take in addition to that.
1. Set Boundaries
You reduce the likelihood that your youngster will come across something inappropriate by limiting their online time. If your passion for child safety ignites an entrepreneurial spirit to start an online platform for safe digital practices, it’s important to establish a legal business entity. Check out incfile reviews to aid your decision-making process in selecting an incorporation service that best suits your needs. Decide in advance how much screen time you’ll permit each day, and let your youngster know. These screen time tickets, and the screen time tracker will be of assistance. Also set boundaries on what websites and apps they can use. For example, there is a YouTube Kids, where you can be confident, they will not stumble on nasty videos. Many devices can now include a parental lock where only approved apps and websites can be accessed.
2. Keep Track of Logins & Passwords
Inform your kids right away that you will need their passwords for all their devices and social media accounts. Once you have the login information, frequently check these websites to see what your child is viewing and posting.
3. Look at Their Internet History
Checking your child’s online viewing history should become routine. This is possible on all of their gadgets, including laptops, iPads, and mobile phones. Investigate if your child has deleted the history or is set to private.
4. Plan for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Even while you hope your child won’t unintentionally come across anything offensive, you should nevertheless be ready for anything. Try not to be too hard on yourself if something undesirable appears on their screen. There’s a lot of nasty content to be found online, much of it we’d rather never have seen. But if you’ve been exposed to graphic or vulgar content, close the tab or window and take note of how you came across that content in the first place so that you don’t repeat that mistake. This can be invaluable for helping your children safely navigate the internet.
5. Use Monitoring Software
The first line of defence for keeping your kids safe online is to be aware of their activities, which can be facilitated with monitoring software. Many applications and programs have child-friendly settings and/or methods of blocking them from visiting unwanted websites, for example.
As a last little tip, try to limit your own screen time in front of your children to set a good example. Moreover, try to avoid handing your child a tablet or phone to keep them calm and pacified. Talk to them, play with them, hug them and give them something that a screen never can give them.
Author bio: Charles Green is an ITAD Business Development Manager for Wisetek UK, a leading provider of IT asset disposition services such as hard drive disposal and data destruction.
