Are you worried about what your child is seeing online?
Or are you concerned about what information they are giving out on the internet? Either way, online child safety is a major issue for parents.
While there is no guarantee that you can safeguard your child completely from the dangers of the web, there are certain measures you can take to reduce their risk and help them understand why they need to be careful.
1. Parental controls
You can block specific websites by adding them to a filter list in your browser settings. This will prevent your child from entering them. Most parents block porn sites, for obvious reasons, but you can also block other sites such as gambling sites, chat rooms and social media sites you're not not keen on.
2. Time limits
Depending on the age of your son or daughter, set a time limit for them. It is best not to encourage excessive internet use at a young age and for health and safety reasons, they should take a break from the screen at least every hour for 15 minutes.
3. Core rules
Educate your child about the dangers of the internet and tell them they ought to be careful with regards to the information they give out, especially personal information. Set rules such as seeking your permission for downloads and not meeting up with people they meet online.
4. Search engines
With internet security packages, you can see what sites are authorised and which are not. This will give you an indication as to whether the sites are safe. There are also some useful child-friendly search engines, including Yahooligans and Ask Jeeves for Kids..
5. Communication
It is vital that you talk to your child about what they are searching and what they are using the internet for. At the start, spend time with your child online and teach them how to use the device and the web. Chat to them about what they like to watch or read and encourage them to ask you questions.
6. Practical things
Position the computer in a family room facing out towards the rest of the room just so that you can keep an eye on what you son or daughter is looking at. Obviously you can’t stand over their shoulder all the time but you can, and should, check-in from time to time. If it's a tablet or laptop, set rules as to where the device can be used and when.
