Technology keeps advancing as well as the intelligence of these little toddlers. Many of them have found effective ways to circumvent all the safety precautions and rules you have set to protect them from internet dangers. However, the fact still remains that dangers on the internet are real. Therefore, we must consistently and continually find more intelligent ways to protect our vulnerable children from them. Luckily these monitoring tips should ease your worried parent mind and effectively help you achieve your aim.
1/18. Open surfing
They’re kids so you never know what they may be invited to or inclined to click on which may land them in dangerous sites. To avoid this, have the computer in an open area where you can monitor the screen from anywhere you are. So that whether you’re seated on the couch or across the room, your eyes are always peeled, fixed and monitoring against internet dangers.
2/18. Discuss about these dangers
If your kid is old enough to use the internet, it means he/she is old enough to understand internet dangers and sites that are a complete no-no. So as part of your family rules, spell out contraband sites as well as reasons while they’re so. Trust your kid but monitor occasionally to ensure they’re following instructions and more importantly to ensure they’re safe.
3/18. Have a secure wifi connection
Sometimes even with all your home measures and warnings, some internet intruders may want to use other means to compromise the internet safety of your children. One way to avoid this is to use a very long and strong password mixed with different cases, numbers and symbols for your wifi connection. That way, you’re making it difficult for intruders thereby protecting your child from internet dangers.
4/18. Lecture them on sharing information
Your child should know be taught that the internet is a permanent place no matter what you may delete tomorrow. They should watch what they write, pictures and videos that post as well as other personal information about their life and thoughts. By so doing, they can avoid internet dangers.
5/18. Lecture them against peer pressure
Every kid should have an independent self esteem. Many wrong decisions kids take on the internet are influenced by children whose parents are not as aware. These internet dangers are often caused by innocent compliance. It’s important your kids learn good values and how to esteem themselves so they don’t easily fall prey.
6/18. Lecture them about malicious sites
Your child should know not to click on everything, visit every site or sign up everywhere. Exemplify what internet discretion is for your kids so they can easily spot malicious websites harvesting personal information. Because of malicious sites, internet dangers are more rampant than usual these days.
7/18. Restrict internet access with personal devices
Because of sexual predators and online bullies including financial frauds and con artists, the internet has become a scary place for personal devices. Many sites have materials that may sneak in to harvest information mainly to achieve targeted and personalized advertising. However, these techniques are now being widely used by malicious advertisers to sell personal information. While you restrict access with personal devices, warn your kids of these internet dangers.
8/18. Password all devices and restrict to parents
Nobody – not your children, not uncles, and not aunties should have the password to your home computer device. That way, when the children want to use the computer, they can bring it to any of the parent to unlock and supervision can be guaranteed. Before granting access to any other adult guardian, you should be convinced of their ability to responsibly supervise your kid’s activity online. Without unsupervised computer usage, they’re likely to fall into internet dangers.
9/18. Don’t tolerate misuse
Learn to discipline your kid when they abuse internet privileges. However, explain the reasons practically so they understand the internet dangers they’re likely to fall into. But after that, ensure they get disciplined for disobedience. Children can be very crafty, therefore, you shouldn’t underestimate your kid’s ability to try to be smarter than you. Because even under surveillance, they can work wonders with their sharp minds.
10/18. Set a ‘download’ rule
You should have a ‘download’ rule in your household. Which stipulates that no download should be made without parental consent. More so, you can simply block all download ability from your wifi setting. This is because kids can be tricked into downloading malware and this malware can intrude and violate their privacy and innocence. This is a very troubling and simple way for kids to fall into internet dangers.
11/18. Spend time with your kids
How about you spend some time with them or create engaging activities so that they don’t turn into loner kids always seeking to spend time on the internet? More so, you can surf with them – seek to get interested in their interests. You’ll see that they’ll enjoy surfing the internet more with you around and will be willing to wait till you can surf with them.
12/18. Set a ‘purchase’ rule
Your child should by no means make any purchase whatsoever online without your consent and active presence – whether free or not. This means that even with a voucher or gift card, your child must not make any purchase unsupervised. This is because, credit card information, social security number, billing address, etc are pretty serious personal data which should not be shared on unprotected sites. More so, your child is new to all these and will be prone to make mistakes and invite internet dangers.
13/18. Install a parental control software
So many parental control software are in existence today so no excuse. Choose any and begin monitoring your child\’s online activity. Many of these softwares come with filters and have adequate coded materials to block malicious sites. Having this type of software will help you keep an eye on your kid and protect your child from internet dangers.
14/18. Only allow age appropriate games
There are some games that are not age appropriate for your toddler. Such games may expose your child to dangerous information or other forms of internet dangers. Therefore, ensure to check that your kids are playing games that are appropriate for their age.
15/18. Restrict webcam usage
Ensure to hide the webcam where your toddler cannot reach it. This is because you never know what your kid is sharing and how damaging it can be. Children need to be guided as they may not completely understand internet dangers. More so, innocent video chatting may be exploited by online malicious predators.
16/18. Monitor the social space of your kids
Your kids shouldn’t accept friend request from just any and everybody. They must understand early the importance of accepting friend request from people they know. Furthermore, be in their social circle so as to actively monitor their online friends. So that you’re sure they’re not falling prey to internet dangers.
17/18. Monitor internet usage at playdates
We’re talking about real internet dangers – no sentiments involved. You should always find out what the internet rules are at the houses of your children’s playdates. This is so as to ensure it’s safe for them to go there. If you can, try and influence the parents of your child’s friends and if not, distancing your kids is also acceptable.
18/18. Set online standards
It’s only a matter of time before you can no longer restrict your child’s access to the internet. So, above all, make sure they have a clear understanding of these internet dangers. Help them develop personal online standards and respectable online social behaviour including the importance of not following the crowd. Because these self-set principles and standards by your kids are the best way they can be protected in the long term.
Sources
Attorney General; Josh Stein – Protect Kids On The Internet
Computer Hope – Protect children from harmful material and people on the Internet
Must Have Mom – How to protect your Children from Internet Dangers?
Kaspersky – Top Seven Dangers Children Face Online: How to Keep Them Safe
The Humbled Homemaker – 10 Ways to Protect Children from the Dangers of the Internet
The Guardian – How do I keep my children safe online? What the security experts tell their kids
Safelink Internet Services – 6 Ways to Protect Your Family from Internet Dangers
NBC News – How To Protect Young Kids from Inappropriate Internet