*This is a collaborative post.
The invention of the internet absolutely transformed the world, and it has allowed us to connect with people all over the world. Not only this, but it has given us the opportunity to be able to access any information at any time. Whereas a few decades ago we would have to consult books and libraries for information, we can now look up a question and get an answer in less than a second. While having access to this wealth of information has definitely proven to be beneficial to society, there are definitely some downsides to being able to access everything all at once.
Children nowadays are growing up in a purely internet age, which means the internet is used for everything from socialisation and as a form of entertainment. Because children have access to the internet at such a young age, it is important that, as a parent, you do what you can to teach and protect them about some of the dangers of the internet. There is so much on the internet that can potentially be harmful to them. You need to ensure they are kept educated and safe while browsing. In this article, we will go over some helpful tips that can assist you in keeping your children safe on the internet.
Have Open Communication
Having open communication with your children is important in all aspects of life. You need to create a safe and open environment so that they know they can come to you if they have any issues. Creating a hostile environment will only lead to your children feeling as if they cannot trust you, which could mean they do not confide in you if they are having problems. If you want your children to feel safe when they are browsing the internet, you should make sure that you have established a good level of trust with your children, so they know that if they come across something dark on the internet, they can tell you about it.
Often children worry that they will get in trouble if they tell their parents about something bad they have seen but this attitude will only create further problems down the line. Make sure you are honest with your children as this will allow them to be honest with you. The internet can be a scary place for children, so they need to know that they have someone to turn to if something happens.
Be Respectful Of Their Privacy
Being respectful of your children’s privacy is super important as they need to know that they have a safe space within their own home. Of course, you want to protect them from the dangers of the internet, but you also need to give them their own space and privacy, so that they can be their own person. If you are the parent who is constantly barging in on them or watching what they do online, your children will learn not to trust you and they will start hiding more things from you.
Being a parent is difficult as you have to find the right balance between being protective and letting them have their freedom. This balance will shift as they start to get older as your children will grow into adults and will not require as much support. So, while your children are still young, start setting a good example to them and show them that you trust them to make the right decisions. Make sure that you let them know that you are there for them, but that you will give them their own privacy to figure things out.
Arrange A Responsible Mobile Plan
A few years ago, browsing the internet meant opening up your laptop and having a scroll, whereas now children almost exclusively use their mobile phones to access the internet. It can be a lot trickier monitoring a phone over a laptop, so you need to make sure your children have a responsible mobile plan in place, so they can do everything safely. When children are young, they do not require a fancy, expensive mobile plan, so it is best to look for some cheaper options. A good option could be these value SIM-only network plans from https://mobile.lebara.com/gb/en/ as they give you lots of different plans to choose from. The good thing about them is that there are no credit checks required, meaning you can set everything up super quick.
If you are looking to buy your child their first phone, then getting a SIM-only network plan would be a good option as it gives you everything you will need. You can choose a limit for mobile data too, meaning your child cannot accidentally run up a large bill if they are using the internet too much. A bit part about internet safety is teaching your children how to be responsible in all aspects of life, so make sure you give them the opportunity to learn.
Educate Them On Internet Safety
Following on from the above point, educating your children on internet safety is a crucial part of keeping your kids safe online. Although your children would have grown up with the internet, it doesn’t mean that they are experts, so you must take the time to educate them properly about internet safety. It would be a good idea to regularly sit down with your children and talk to them about the internet and what the internet can be used for.
Through the internet, you can access absolutely anything you want, which can be both a positive and a negative. Not only this but they need to be aware that anything they do on the internet will stay there forever, so they must be careful about what they post. We all have a digital footprint, so you need to educate your children on what that means and the potential dangers of posting on the internet without any real concern. A lot of employers will now look at the social media accounts of potential employees and if you have posted irresponsible things on the internet, it could really interrupt your career.
Install Parental Controls On Your Broadband
When you get broadband installed in your home, your service provider will usually ask you if you want to install some parental controls. This is a super handy feature on broadbands as it allows you to control some of the internet your children can access. Of course, you still want to give your children their own privacy, but there are certain websites that children shouldn’t access. Having the power to be able to block these websites will save you a lot of hassle in the long run as it means you will not have to deal with the consequences.
When you do set up these controls on the broadband, it would be a good idea to have a sit down with your children and let them know that you are putting these restrictions in place. You should always keep your children in the loop about these sorts of things as this will help them build trust in you. Again, open communication will always be the best way to maintain a good relationship with your children and keep them safe while they are browsing the internet.
