There's no doubt that the pandemic has shuffled things around for everyone, including families and the way kids use the internet.
Parents have more to be worried about since their children are spending more time online. Understanding the cause, the dangers, and how you can protect your kids is key, and the following will help with this.
The Pandemic
Not much is known about COVID-19, but what is known is that it seems to be affecting folks with health conditions and older folks more than young people. Even though young kids aren't always affected by this virus, they can pass it on to adults, putting the population at risk.
It makes sense that many schools are sending kids home to continue their education remotely. Parents are investing in better computers for their children along with stronger internet to help them keep up with their education.
The problem is that the internet is addictive, and you can't supervise your kids all the time. This could lead kids to overuse the internet and might even expose them to dangers.
Dangers Kids Might be Exposed To
As helpful as the internet is at the moment, it's also vast and full of dangers that your children could be exposed to. As your kids spend more time online, the likelihood of running into some of these dangers increases.
Cyberbullying is one of those dangers, which is possible anywhere, from message boards, online games, to social media platforms. Children also don't know what they can and cannot post online. It's not uncommon for a child to post a picture with identifying information like a home address or personal photographs.
Kids can also fall for scams or be susceptible to cyber predators online. No parent wants to hear about these types of dangers, but it's important to know what you're up against and to understand why worrying is okay.
What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Children?
The pressure parents are feeling can be reduced if they can figure out how to protect their children. Ideally, parents could simply limit screen time, but that's no longer easy. Kids have to not only go to school online but work on their homework there, too.
The next best thing is finding ways to monitor a child's online activities. This doesn't mean you have to stand over your kid's shoulder because that'll just be weird. Plus, no one has time to do that.
Some parents are working from home as well, so their time is limited, but what you can do is download online tools that help monitor your child's activities online. The right tool can help you monitor pictures, where your kids visit, and what your children are talking about, and much more.
Each online tool is different from the other, so make sure you pay attention to the kind of perks the app you're considering offers.
Most apps tell you what they are capable of before you download it. Some of the perks mentioned here are common in popular family safety apps like Family Orbit among others. Be sure to read a few reviews before you choose the app that'll keep your kids safer.
Remember that you aren't married to these apps. If you feel another would be better, then keep trying them until you find the one that works best for you.
Have an Honest Conversation
You and your kids need to sit down and have a conversation about the dangers online. Try to break these dangers down into something your kids will understand, and be open to questions they might have. It's important that you also talk to them about why you are implementing some of these rules.
Your kids may not love what you have to do to keep them safe, but if you try to involve them and treat them with respect, they might understand what you're doing.
If you do this without helping them understand, they might end up rebelling and you don't want that. Rebellious attitudes make things harder for you, and it could push your kids to try to get around your rules somehow.
Parents are trying to do their best to adapt to this new reality, and you can see that it can be done easier if you take the right steps. Talk to other parents or teachers to see if they can help alleviate some of the pressures you're feeling right now.
