Top Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe With Technology (And Still Allowing their Privacy!)

We all want our children to experience technology. The internet, smart phones and gadgets are a great way of engaging our children in new and exciting things. But, with the wonders of technology, it can be alarming to let children have free reign over these vital pieces of tech. Facebook, text messages and what’s app are great ways for your kids to stay in touch with school mates. But, many of us may feel uncomfortable with letting our children use these things without supervision.

Of course, it’s imperative that you trust your children. You don’t want to snoop around in their inbox. But, you do want to make sure that they are using the internet and their technology in a responsible way.

So, how can you achieve this delicate balance?

Content Blockers

Content blockers are a great way of making sure that your kids cannot access any unorthodox sites. By putting in their age and adult locks, you can ensure that your children are safe when they browse the net. You can do this via smart phones and devices too. You need to speak to the mobile company and request a lock to be put on. This means that any less than favourable sites will be blocked. This is done by keyword and phrase scans. So, you can be rest assured that your children are not exposed to adult themes.

Tracking Software

Tracking software can help with older teens. This kind of software allows you to see a site map of sites that they have visited. What’s more; you can use parental controls to restrict this access in the future. Do be sure to tell your children that you are using this software. After all, you want to establish trust. This is more important than ever when dealing with teens.

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Supervision

Of course, there is no substitute for good, old-fashioned supervision. Make sure that you have the central computer in a shared living space as the dining room. Ensure that restricting access to the Internet on school nights and ensure that it is only used for school purposes. This is a good way of being able to keep an eye on what is happening in the online world.

Phone Tracing Apps

Many children have smartphones, so it’s important to be aware of how these systems work. Make sure that you have a free phone tracer installed. This can alert you to any sales calls or other calls that may come through that your kids are not authorised to take. After all, anyone can get hold of your number. So, it’s best to use this kind of app to ensure that these calls are kept to a minimum.

Talking With Your Kids

Let’s face it, alerting our children to the world of internet and device safety is a good way to ensure that they still have their privacy. Discussing matters of safety is important. It’s like the talks of stranger danger that our parents used to give us. Talking and being honest is important for any family dynamic. Making sure that your kids are safe means that you need to communicate with them not the dangers of being online.