FOUR TIPS FOR YOUR KID’S ONLINE SAFETY

1

Start conversations early: If you start talking about online safety early, it will make your job much easier when your children get older. Start with simple rules like: “Don’t open e-mails or messages from people you don’t know” and “decline friend requests from strangers”. Teach your children to not take part in online bullying and to report if they see someone being targeted. You want online safety to be part of their normal behavioUr. Contrary to stereotypes, gaming is not just restricted to boys, girls also enjoy playing and should be included in conversations.

2

Agree on a routine and appropriate length of time

children can be online: Set a good example by minimising your online activity at home. Lead by showing your children that you follow a routine, which also involves work and physical activity. By allocating ‘playing time’, you can encourage children to see gaming as a treat and help them manage their time more efficiently. Also, use a parental control software to set time limits on your child’s device usage. This will help them see how much time they are spending online and help reduce exposure to potentially malicious websites.

3

Be careful of what you click: Most children have been using digital activities for entertainment from an early age, desensitising them to the potential risks of online behaviour. Cybercriminals can use the popularity of video games to entice gamers to click on potentially malicious links. Ensure your children are aware of what they’re clicking on and that they always need to check how reliable the source is. Parents should also bear age restrictions in mind. Games should be age-appropriate to keep kids away from potentially unsuitable content.

4

Get the whole family to unplug and create ‘screenfree zones’: Introduce a time during the day that you can all gather together as a family and spend time without any electronics. This will help your children recognise the importance of socialising and communicating as a family. Think of instances such watching TV after dinner and saving gaming for the weekend as ways in which you can present visual media as a privilege and strengthen your family bond through socialisation and respecting boundaries.