The following contribution is from another author.
As a parent of a child today, there are so many things you have to be cautious of. Children are interacting with technology and the internet at earlier ages than ever before, and that only makes it all the more important for you to be on top of these issues and do what you can to manage them.
But what does that look like and what should you actually be doing with regards to tech and internet precautions as a parent of a child who’s starting to interact with these things for the first time? That’s what we’re going to discuss today, so read on and learn about some of the steps you might want to begin taking.
Set Boundaries from Day One
First of all, it’s important to make sure that the boundaries you have in place are there from day one. If you don’t set boundaries early on in terms of how your child uses the internet and their electronic devices, they’ll run the risk of very quickly falling into some bad habits, and that’s not what you want. So setting some boundaries and making it clear what’s okay and what’s not will definitely be a good idea. Kids prefer to have solid boundaries rather than a lack of clarity too.
Use the Parental Settings
Most devices will have some sort of parental settings you can turn on when a device is meant for family use. This makes it impossible for your child to be exposed to content that’s beyond their age level and that might be harmful to them. It’s a good idea to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the different parental settings out there and seeing which will be right for your child.
Use Protective Cases
Having a protective case for whatever devices your child uses is certainly going to be a good idea. Kids tend to be less than careful with their devices, meaning they’re probably going to get dropped. You can avoid any major damage to them by protecting them with child-proof cases.
Try to Limit Screen Time
Limiting the screen time of your child is something you’ll probably want to think about, but you’ll also want to make sure that you’re not focused on punishing them too much. It’s about working with them to ensure that they’re not spending too much of their free time on computers and devices. It’s best for them to achieve some kind of balance in terms of how they spend their time. Create fun games and activities that they can do away from the screen too.
Find Repair Services You Know You Can Trust
Finding a repair service that you can trust is something that should be near the top of your list of priorities when you’re trying to manage the way in which your child uses technology each day. You’ll want to make sure that they’re keeping them in good condition, and part of that is repairing minor problems before they develop into major ones. Places like Rapid iPhone Repair can help you with fast and reliable repair services for all kinds of devices when something goes wrong with your child’s device.
Place the Computer in a Communal Space
If you want to give your child access to a desktop computer, it’s a good idea to think about how you’re going to go about doing that. Letting them have access to such a device in their private bedroom where you can’t really monitor how they’re using it might not be the smartest idea. That’s why you should think about locating the computer in a communal space if possible. By doing that, you can make sure that you have an eye on what they’re doing and that they’re only using the computer in a way that’s safe and not dangerous in any way.
Monitor Who They’re in Contact With
Depending on the age of your child, it might be a good idea to make sure that you always have a clear idea of who they’re in contact with on social media and via messaging apps. You want to make sure that they’re not talking to strangers and that they’re only talking to friends from school and people that you know in real life. If they only know them online, there’ll be a risk that they could be talking to someone who’s not being honest about who they say they are and that can be risky.
Ensure They Don’t Share Private Information on Social Media
It’s important that your kids don’t share too much private information on social media. If they do that, it could ultimately be damaging to their safety and to the whole family. The less information that’s out there about where you live, where you are, and when you’re likely to be home or not at home, the safer you’ll all be. That’s one reason among many why it might be a good idea to make sure that their social media accounts are set to private so only the people they know can see them.
Lead by Example When it Comes to Using Tech
Finally, you should try to lead by example when it comes to using technology as a parent. You want to make it clear to your child that technology shouldn’t be the main focus and that screen time is not as important as time with the family and spending time outdoors. How do you expect them to achieve that balance and to realize these things if you’re always glued to your smartphone, laptop, or tablet? If you’re serious about it, your child will see that and follow on the same path.
There are clearly lots of things you can’t afford to ignore as a parent today. You want to make sure that your kids are able to explore the internet and use technology in a way that’s beneficial to them, while at the same time they’re not exposed to any kind of danger or harmful content as they do so.
I appreciate you for sharing valuable content