Making sure that children have a safe online exposure is quite a daunting task for parents. Inappropriate content, social media addiction and bullying could just be some of the major problems that moms and dads do not want their kids to encounter.
According to Newsmaker, many parents fear that their children will fall into one of these cyber traps which could affect their mental and emotional well-being. But there are always ways to make sure that young individuals are not harmed with these cyber threats. Here are some ways.
1. Monitor Internet usage of your kids
Kids Health said it would be better for parents to place computers or laptops in common areas in the house where they can easily watch sites their children browse. It also advised guardians to check on the personal devices or gadgets of their kids.
2. Filter websites which have content not good for kids
Another effective way to limit the exposure of kids to various types of threats online is to limit the websites they can open and browse. A filtering software is a big help to parents who do not want their kids to explore adult content websites.
3. Follow and add your children as friends on social media
As per Safe, Smart & Social, it would be best to closely monitor the activities of children on social media like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. However, commenting on their posts or those of their friends must be avoided to spare their kids from embarrassment.
4. Set time for Internet browsing at home
Safe, Smart & Social also noted that it would be a good idea to limit the exposure of their kids to non-educational websites to two hours daily. It also claimed that some areas in the house should be declared "tech-free zones" to encourage kids to interact with family members.
5. Always communicate with your children
In addition, Kids Health said an open communication with your kids is a vital part in ensuring that they are not exposed to the dangers in the cyber world. There is a big possibility that they will be honest about the things they check online.
