Helping Your Child Understand How to Stay Safe on the Internet

Not every child knows how to keep themselves safe in today’s world. And not every parent knows how to keep them safe. You don’t have to let your child be at the mercy of the world though. With the use of various tools and the willingness to pay attention, you can help identify potential threats to your child’s well-being and help keep them safe no matter what.

Monitoring Internet Usage and Cell Phones 
Until a child is over eighteen, you’ll want to enact reasonable limits on their Internet and cell phone usage. Consider parental control features on your child’s computer. You may even want to consider installing a spy program for cell phones so you can monitor what your child is doing. Your child should understand why you’re taking such measures- so you’re able to make sure they’re staying responsible with their Internet and phone usage and you can be sure they’re safe. Many parental control programs will allow you to see what your child’s doing online, including what sites they visit and what kinds of emails they’re sending. Spy programs for cell phones can also give you information about what social networks your child is visiting on their phone, the content of their texts and calls, and pictures and videos they’re having. As your child gets older and they’ve proven they’re responsible, you can relax on parental controls. But if your child misbehaves or abuses their online or phone privileges, don’t hesitate to use parental controls or tracking services. Children should have reasonable limits as they grow older and should be able to understand the consequences of their actions.

Monitoring their Internet and cellphone usage is an easy way to make sure that your child is staying safe online. After all, one has to worry about cyber-bullying, pornography, illicit websites, and more. The Internet has a lot of benefits but it also comes with its own downsides including access to dangerous people.

Your child should understand why you’re keeping an eye on them. Have frank discussions about why you’re using spy products for cell phones and monitoring their Internet usage. While no one likes to be told they have to be monitored, it’s for the best when dealing with a child on the internet.

What Every Child Should Know
A child should be made well aware of what kinds of content is unacceptable in your home as well as potential dangers they need to watch out for online. For example, they should always avoid web cam chatting websites in order to avoid explicit content. A child should also be careful to avoid talking to people online they don’t really know in settings where their conversation can’t be monitored. For example, some websites geared towards children will monitor explicit language, who joins, and so on. But be sure your child is able to use the Internet and their cellphone responsibly as well. Set time limits so your child isn’t using the Internet or their cellphone for hours on end. After all, a child has homework and other responsibilities as well. They should know not to waste all of their time on electronic devices.

While using something like cellphone tracking technology may seem like overkill at first, it can be a valuable tool to help keep your children safe, especially if they’re still in middle school.

When you feel your child is old enough to behave responsibly on the Internet, you can lighten parental controls. But never doubt that monitoring your child can be one of the most valuable tools you have when it comes to making sure your children can stay safe and smart on the Internet.