{"id":202035,"date":"2024-09-26T05:24:40","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T12:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=202035"},"modified":"2024-09-26T06:17:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T13:17:04","slug":"top-strategies-for-keeping-your-kids-safe-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/top-strategies-for-keeping-your-kids-safe-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Strategies For Keeping Your Kids Safe Online"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if I told you that the most important thing you need to keep your kids safe online doesn\u2019t come in a box or via a download? And that it doesn\u2019t require you to be monitoring or supervising their every move. And even better \u2013 it doesn\u2019t cost any money!! Yep \u2013 you\u2019d be interested, I\u2019m sure. After almost 13 years as Cybermum, I\u2019ve experienced plenty of \u2018aha\u2019 cybersafety moments. But, without doubt, one of the biggest learnings for me is that creating a family culture where there is calm, honest, and truly open communication is the best way to protect your kids online. In fact, it\u2019s likely far more powerful than the latest apps or software, and here\u2019s why\u2026<\/p>\n

Like It Or Not, Screens Are Here To Stay<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019m a big fan of trying to minimise the amount of time kids spend in front of a screen for so many reasons. There is a plethora of research to support how \u2018too much\u2019 screen time can adversely affect kids\u2019 behaviour. A 2022 US study of K-12 educators in the US showed that 80% of educators believed that increased screen time worsened children\u2019s behaviour.<\/a> There are studies that show excessive (and early) screen time can potentially affect a child\u2019s cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional growth<\/a>. And even some research shows that the effects of excessive screen time can be similar to the symptoms of autism<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the reality is that screens aren\u2019t going anywhere soon. We live in a digital world where you actually can\u2019t go about your business without a device and a screen. When was the last time you tried going into a bank branch??? Instead, I believe we need to think of screens a little like we think of sugar. We know it\u2019s not great for us, so we try and minimise our intake.<\/p>\n

But how good would it be if our kids understood this perspective, so they also realised that too much screen time wasn\u2019t ideal? Well, they can \u2013 weave it into family conversations!<\/p>\n

24\/7 Monitoring Is Impossible – You Have To Sleep and Work and Live!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When \u2018digital parenting\u2019 became a thing about 15 – 20 years ago, we were all told that we needed to constantly monitor our kids to ensure they weren\u2019t visiting inappropriate websites or speaking to strangers online. I remember trying so hard to stay across the online movements of four kids \u2013 I\u2019ve got to admit it was quite time-consuming and exhausting!! Full credit to those parents who put in the hours to keep their kids safe.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2024 and there is now a comprehensive range of \u2018parental control\u2019 apps and software that can act as another set of \u2018eyes and ears\u2019 for parents. And while they can be great tools to have in your digital parenting toolbox, they are not the silver bullet. What happens when your child is visiting at another family\u2019s house that doesn\u2019t have parental controls set up? What happens if your child uses a friend\u2019s device while travelling home on the bus to \u2018get around\u2019 the parental controls at home? And what about, if they work out how to turn them off?? Remember, are digital natives are quite savvy!!<\/p>\n

But if you regularly talk online safety with your kids at home then you have a big head start here. In fact, your stress levels should be relatively low. When you make it a priority to talk to your kids about what they do online \u2013 in a non-judgemental way \u2013 and share your stories, the latest trends and risks then you are in a good place. If your kids know you understand their digital life, know that you can handle the tough stuff, and know with 100% confidence that you are NOT going to go berserk if they come to you with a problem then you do not need to worry about monitoring their every move. You\u2019ve empowered them with knowledge and offered them a safety net \u2013 perfect!<\/p>\n

How To Create a Culture of Calm and Honest Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before I share my top tips with you I want to make it very clear that this is not an exercise in being a perfect parent. There is no such thing as a perfect parent \u2013 we are all on a journey and learning as we go. So, please don\u2019t feel psyched out or worry that it\u2019s too late. We\u2019re all doing the best we can to raise our kids \u2013 so just keep on keeping on!<\/p>\n

There are a few key things that I believe contribute to creating a top-notch communication culture in a family. Here are my top recommendations.<\/p>\n

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  1. Active Listening Is Essential<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I learnt pretty early on in my parenting career that if you\u2019re not being an active listener, you\u2019re not really getting the full story. Active listening happens when you\u2019re fully engaged with your child and is one of the best ways to communicate that you care and that you\u2019re interested which in turn encourages them to open up more. Perfect! Here\u2019s what I suggest:<\/p>\n