You may never be as tech-savvy as your children. There are still steps you can take to keep them safe when they’re online, though.
1. Learn the technology. Figure out how to work a laptop, how popular apps work, and how to turn off the WiFi.
2. Check your device’s privacy settings. Yes, teens may be able to bypass these, but little kids won’t. A lot of devices have pre-existing settings for parental control.
3. Install monitoring software and regularly change its password. Also, it’s a good idea to uninstall and reinstall the software regularly, in case your kid’s a master hacker.
4. Explain to your kids that whatever they put online is permanent. What they do now can affect their future, from who they end up in a romantic relationship with to which managers are willing to hire them. Explain to your children that if they wouldn’t do something in person, they shouldn’t do it online.
5. Limit how often they’re allowed to use technology. By cutting down on their online time, you’re showing them that there are other aspects to life that don’t involve a screen.
6. Keep devices in public places. If laptops and smartphones aren’t allowed in the bathroom or bedroom, follow those rules yourself.
7. Set rules and follow through with consequences. Write a contract and sign it, along with your children. If they break the contract, follow through with whatever consequence you’ve outlined. If your children end up truly impressing you, treat them to something nice. For example, get your flower delivery in Melbourne with Fresh Flowers.
8. Don’t block and monitor the Internet to the point where your children can’t make sound decisions for themselves. The goal should be to eventually have your child self-regulate when it comes to Internet use. As they earn your trust, give them more freedom online.
9. Have a home for tech devices at night, like a locked cabinet. Not only will this prevent your kids from doing things they shouldn’t be doing online, but it will also help them tune into their real lives instead of staring at a screen for hours every day.
Monitoring Internet use takes a lot of effort. Understanding what kids are doing online, knowing how to work your own tech devices, and teaching your children how to responsibly share information on the Internet are all part of being a savvy parent.