Computers can greatly benefit a child’s education, but it’s important for parents to ensure it remain a safe outlet for their kids, just like any other connection to the outside world. It is crucial for parents to be vigilant and implement necessary safeguards to protect their children from online exploitation by predators, scammers, school bullies, and data thieves. Here are some valuable suggestions for parents who are concerned about ensuring their children’s safety and protecting them from online harassment.
Enjoy a Family Computer
Monitoring children’s online activities becomes more manageable when they use a family PC located in a common area of the house. Placing a family computer in the living room or kitchen can be a convenient choice for parents who want to keep an eye on their children’s online activities.
Parents can also utilize a password known only to them to prevent their children from accessing the internet without their knowledge, especially when the parents are occupied or temporarily away from home. Although it may be inconvenient to require a password each time a child wants to use the family computer, it is a worthwhile measure to protect their innocence and shield them from potential bullying at school.
Software for Parental Control
There are numerous software applications available for parents to install on the family computer, allowing them to have oversight of their child’s online activities. Well-known parental control software options include Norton Family, Net Nanny, McAfee, and various others. When considering which parental control software to install, it’s important for parents to evaluate whether the app fulfills the following criteria:
- It is important to ensure that children do not share their personal information.
- Filters out objectionable content on web pages, social media sites, chatrooms, and more.
- Tracks and records the child’s online activity, including their web searches and visits to web pages.
- Includes remote monitoring features for parents, providing updates and alerts sent directly to the parent’s smartphone.
Engage in Conversation with Your Children
Many parents have had conversations with their child about the importance of staying safe around unfamiliar individuals. Parents should consider including the internet in their discussions when their child is ready to go online in today’s environment. Explain to your children the significance of keeping personal information, like their age or address, private when using the internet, even if they believe they are familiar with the individuals they are sharing it with. Inform them about the importance of constant online activity monitoring to prevent them from accessing inappropriate websites recommended by their peers.
Lastly, it’s important to set boundaries on your child’s internet use and encourage a healthy balance between screen time and other activities. By offering a variety of outlets for their energy, you can help prevent them from becoming overly fixated on computers. Engaging in activities like playing family board games, going for a walk, playing a game of basketball, making a batch of cookies, or reading a book together at bedtime can help strengthen family connections.
If you’re interested in learning more about ensuring your children’s online safety, feel free to reach out to us at TN Computer Medics!