There is no denying that technology is one of the greatest tools of the 21st Century, and it is going to be invaluable for our children's lives and jobs in the future.
But it does come at the cost of worry and concern about protecting our kids when they are online.
Keeping our kids safe online is a priority for parents, so we have gathered together some online security tips for parents to give you soem peace of mind.
Read on to find out how to keep your kids safe online.
There are 5 steps to safely raising kids in this digital era, all designed to guard and control the way your child uses technology, without spoilign their fun or their learning!
Nobody wants to ban kids from using the internet so set some online safety regulations instead.
It's not as simple as turning on the parental controls and letting them have free reign over their devices, though.
This internet safety guide for kids is a great place to start, and be sure to follow our 5 tips below too.
Online Security Tips for Parents
These are the five main safety precautions every kid should know:
1. Practice Safe Password Habits
Make sure your child knows that passwords are meant to be secret.
Tell them to never share their passwords with others, post them online, or leave them written down in an obvious place.
2. Be Careful What You Share with Strangers
Talking to new people while gaming or socialising online is not inherently a bad thing.
You don't want to make your child paranoid or anti-social, but they do need to know to be careful with what they share and how much information they give out online.
The basic rule is: don’t share personal information with anyone you meet online.
3. Listen to Your Computer’s Warnings
Install the best anti-virus software you can, and take the time to show your children what it looks like when your antivirus program issues a warning.
Make sure they know to tell you immediately if one pops up and show them the process you follow to handle these risks.
4. Ask for Permission Before Installing Anything
Following on from point 4, make sure your child knows not to download or install anything without checking with you first.
There are so many prompts to install software online, some of them legit, some not.
Show your kid what these prompts might look like and set the rule that they should not click on them or attempt to download anything - even for their favourite game! - without checking with your first.
5. Talk About Cyberbullying
We don't talk about Bruno, but we do talk about the potential for bullying online - both as victim and perpetrator.
When kids are online they should be able to identify and report cyberbullying when they see it.
Teach them about the types of cyberbullying they may be exposed to, and establish boundaries around which websites and apps are appropriate to use.
Look up examples online to show them how these things start, and teach them about hate speech and the kinds of language to use in certain situations.
For example, online and in real life, kids need to know how to disagree with people without being rude.
If your kids are online, you need to have these conversations. It's not a one and done deal either.
Opening up an on-going conversation with your kids about their online habits will show them that you want to be involved in their digital lives, and thaat you are there to turn to if they have any questions or concerns.
If you want to teach your kids to stay safe on the internet, you need these online safety tips for parents.
Get more online safety tips for parents & kids:
This post contains product and service links for your convenience. By clicking on these links I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only suggest resources and items I believe in and highly recommend. Find out more on our Disclosure page.