Keeping Safe Online For You And Your Family

I’m a father of eleven year old twin girls and we live in this rollercoaster world of technology which is moving at an incredible speed. There is no doubt that they are much more adept in using technology than I will probably ever be. I’m guessing that they are growing up in the high tech world it is just second nature to them.

In a month or so time they will be starting high school and their tech devices will become a far more important part of their lives. They will for example, be using their mobile phones even more and it will become more difficult to keep track of everything they are doing and exactly what they are accessing.

You can of course add trackers to their phones so you know where they are and have a parental control app to see what they are accessing but that doesn’t mean they don’t start accessing apps or websites that are completely unsuitable for their age.

Online safety is very important to us as parents. As it is also for parents everywhere. With kids today spending lots of time online and from a much younger age, these worries can start very early. Young children may find it hard to understand the risks involved with using the internet. Or, you may be reluctant to explain too much. Worried that it may frighten or confuse them. Even older children who are aware of the risks can find it hard to recognise the signs of trouble if it’s not something they have experienced before.

While you should take measures to ensure your child stays safe, such as turning off location tags, setting parental controls and filling their devices with other age appropriate content and games, there is always a risk. So, it’s important that you learn to recognise the signs of danger.

Here are a few suggestions and help that might help you identify any problem your child or teen is having while online. As extra help it may be worthwhile to take a look at safeguarding courses that are available to help keep your children safe online.

Hiding Their Device or Lying About it

Teens and older children are especially adept at hiding things they know they shouldn’t be doing or are worried about. They may be being encouraged to lie. They could know they are doing something wrong but be unsure how to stop or they might be ashamed or embarrassed about something that has happened online. If you find they are spending a lot of time on devices in their rooms or behind closed doors, or that they are lying to you about what they are doing online, this could be the time to investigate and find out if their is a problem.

Defensive Behaviour

It’s a good idea to regularly chat to your kids about what they do online. This is something that as parents we have always done so they are comfortable talking to you about being online. Most importantly you don’t want them to think you don’t trust them or that you are checking up on them. So, do this by showing an interest in their games and apps. If they ever start to answer these questions defensively or try to change the subject, something may be wrong.

Younger children may become upset, or suddenly not want to spend any time online. They may even try to throw their device away. This can be a sign that something has happened that they don’t know how to deal with.

Tiredness

Tiredness could either be a sign that they are staying up too late on their device or that they are worried about something that’s going on. Either way, it’s something to worry about. If tiredness becomes a problem, maybe suggest all devices are left in the kitchen overnight and include your phones or devices to show that you are prepare to follow the same rules as you’re trying to apply to them. In fact, we already have this rule in place in our home and the girls accept it as completely normal.

Poor Performance at School

Tiredness, stress, worries, and distractions can lead to a sudden dip in their schoolwork and grades. If you are worried about your child’s performance at school, or if they suddenly don’t like school and don’t want to go, speak to their teachers to see if they are aware of any causes before jumping to conclusions.

If you are worried about any of these signs, it’s so important to talk to your child or teenager. Maybe you will need to report an app or website. You can never be too careful, and as a parent, you should always trust your instincts as generally speaking a parent’s instinct is usually right at least that’s what I found over my years of parenting.

When used safely their time online can be fun, educational and an important part of your child’s development. It’s our children’s future and they make sure they respect it and talk to you if there are any sort of problem. Just make sure both you, and they understand the risks involved, are alert to the signs of trouble and know how to report any concerns.

Have you as parents had any issues while your children have been online? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.