The most common risks include exposure to inappropriate or harmful content, cyberbullying, and contact with online predators.
One of the most overwhelming tasks can be figuring out technological policies for modern parents. There are government guidelines, coaches, fair in support groups and forums dedicated to helping parents navigate raising children in a world where the internet is widely present.
A 2024 survey by BECPAT International found that 55% of parents rank online safety as their top concern, showing fears about the children’s mental and physical health. Since technology is becoming more integrated into everyone’s daily life, limiting screen time is not enough.
Parents can’t fully eliminate technology from their children’s lives. But don’t worry, there are tools available for parents who want to show their kids the right use of the internet.
Read this article to get help right away!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Choose tools with strong privacy features, passcodes, and parental controls.
- Steer kids towards creative education and interactive apps and websites rather than passive scrolling.
- Look for user-friendly designs that are engaging but not overstimulating.
- Balance a child’s desire for independence with the need for parents guidance to keep them safe.
One of the foremost things to consider when selecting tools to introduce your kids to the Internet is ease of use. The tool must be kid-friendly if older children wish to learn how to use the Internet in a semi-independent manner.
The way that a user gets along with a technological tool is the UX, or user experience. Experts specializing in UX design services recommend looking for easy-to-click buttons, simple web design, and simple language for kid-friendly tools. These digital tools are interactive yet simple, engaging a child’s brain without overpowering them.
Besides a kid-friendly design, an extremely significant feature of a tool’s UX is the parental controls it allows. For safety, younger kids shouldn’t be allowed to use the Internet unsupervised. Check out the digital tools that blend parental feedback into the UX, such as website blockers and screen time controls.
The Internet is an endless source of excitement for today’s kids. They can play games, chat with friends, watch videos, and find out about new toys and games they want their parents to buy. In case parents have screen time restrictions in place, there’s also the joy of exploring something that feels forbidden.
Parents know that the Internet is not so positive. Unlimited Internet access for younger children has some links to development issues. Older kids can become antisocial or aggressive if they stumble upon the negative corners of the Internet. More dangerously, the Internet enables access to your kids by people with bad intentions without your knowledge.
Put safety first when choosing online tools for your child. Explore tools that protect user privacy with passcodes and encryption. Install a program that allows you parental control over various websites and access to your children’s messaging history if you allow them to use a device, so you can ban them from talking to strangers.
Remember that no digital tool will guarantee your child’s online safety. There is no substitute for parental conversations and guidance. Before granting a child independent access to the Internet and messaging, talk about online safety with them. Tell them when to tell an adult and to look out for warning signs of harmful content. Children who are too young for this conversation are not old enough for independent Internet access.
PRO TIP: Treat parental controls not as a surveillance tool, but as a teaching assistance.
For many years, “screen time,” or the amount of time a child spent in front of various electronic devices, was a common topic of conversation regarding children’s Internet use. Parents fretted about how much time their kids spent online, or about their own screen time.
However, understanding the way kids spend time on the Internet is more important than how long they spend online. Gaming for two hours on a creative game is going to be more productive than spending 30 minutes scrolling through AI-generated short-form videos.
Despite its drawbacks, the online world offers a valuable opportunity for many kids. Explore the world beyond their own backyard and even express some form of creativity because it’s a way to learn new skills.
As a parent, make up one’s mind to use tools that allow you to foster creativity and positive skill-building through the Internet. This can involve parental controls that allow you to block certain websites. Do some research and steer your child toward positive online activities, like digital drawing apps. The first time they use a new online tool, do so together so you can see what they see.
See what features to look for in a tool:
Navigating the Internet with your child can be a challenging experience as you attempt to strike a balance between your child’s need for independence and to fit in with their peers and your own anxieties and desire to offer guidance.
Digital tools built with kids Internet users and parent safety controls can help you introduce your kids to the Internet and keep them protected from potential threats. Also note that no digital tool is a substitute for open communication with your child and modeling safe Internet behavior.
The most common risks include exposure to inappropriate or harmful content, cyberbullying, and contact with online predators.
Use parental control apps and built-in device settings to manage screen time and monitor app usage.
A family take agreement is a set of rules created by parents and children together to establish boundaries for online use.
Yes. There are many organizations, such as eSafety Commissioner, Common Sense Media, and Google’s Family Safety Centre.
