Set time limits to ensure they live a little offline
Most kids would spend hours and hours online if they could get away with it.
Six in 10 parents worry their kids have no interests away from the internet, with 12-year-olds being the biggest concern.
And 88 per cent of mums and dads say they do take measures to limit their children’s use of devices.
But how much is our own behaviour influencing them? Children model themselves on their parents, so switching off your own devices could help. If you pick up a book they may follow your lead.
It can be hard for kids to hear the word “No” with no explanation – so make sure you voice your concerns about their screen time and have a conversation about why it’s important to limit it. Draw up a family agreement to set boundaries on computer time – and stick to them.
You can find a template for a family contract at childnet.com. If you are feeling really bold, why not unplug and create “screen free” zones at home?
Long gone are the days when a single parental control on the family computer kept your kids safe.
Pre-installed parental controls are available for most smartphones, tablets, laptops and game consoles – but you can download additional software and apps. See internetmatters.org for a guide.
It’s worth looking at a popular app called Forest ( forestapp.cc) which helps people beat their mobile phone addiction by growing digital trees.
Users earn credits by not using their phone, then use the credits to sponsor planting real trees around the world.
Find ways to engage with your kids online by finding activities you can do together. These could include apps to keep your kids healthy, such as Plant Nanny, which encourages kids to drink more water, and Zombies, Run! – which gets them out pounding the streets to become a virtual superhero.
Use night settings on phones to cut the amount of blue light from screens, which can keep us all awake. And turn off notification sounds to limit distraction.