As a parent it’s your first priority to keep your child safe from anything that’s harmful. You buy child locks for cabinets, socket covers, covers for sharp objects, but one thing that we seem to can’t control is the content that shows up online.
Be it a child of 10 years or a toddler, they consume content on the internet and are susceptible to a lot of danger. The content they consume at this age shapes their personality and has an impact on them psychologically.
To help you make internet safe for your child, we have researched some tips to prevent your kids from seeing inappropriate content and how to make internet safe for children. A few things that you can do are:
1. Talk to your child about their online activity
As soon as your kid becomes of age where they understand what is being said to them, they become even more sensitive to the content they’re exposed to online. Whether your kid is 5 or 10, talk to them about what they are doing online and keep the conversation going as they get older.
Even if your child is young, telling them to stay away from violent and inappropriate content will help them understand your values and adopt them.
2. Keep screens where you can see them
Always monitor what your kid is seeing online, especially if they’re younger. Keep their computer or mobile in a central spot in the home where it’s easy to keep an eye on the screen. You can also keep their device on ‘forget Wi-Fi password’ so that they can’t go online without you knowing.
For younger children, keep a track of browser history to make sure that they’re not visiting any fishy sites.
3. Know Your Parental Controls
Innocent content can lead to inappropriate videos or ads that are not good for children. It’s wise to use parental controls/search restrictions offered by web browsers, apps, and devices, for example, there’s Safe Search Filters feature on Google that blocks sites with explicit sexual material.
You can search and find out many options that work for you and protect your child.
4. Educate Your Kids on How to Be Safe
Educate yourself on how to be safe on social networks so that you educate your kids about the best practices. Sign up to the social networks and apps your kids are using to learn the privacy settings and reporting mechanisms. Talk about how they can stay safe on social networks and what can be bullying – so that they can avoid being the victim or the perpetrator.
Teach your child how to:
• Report inappropriate or offensive posts
• Block someone
• Keep information private
Following these tips can help gain you more control over what your child is seeing and experiencing online. Protect your kids and make sure they’re being safe while having fun. Toyishland wants to see your stars grow!
