The number one step you can take is communication.

make sure you are always talking to your kids and they are talking to you.

Parents are always asking questions such as, 

“What apps should I restrict?”

“What is the best kids’ security and monitoring software?”

At the end of the day, we shouldn’t be focusing on the technology, but a behavior and values that we want our kids to have. We want kids to have the same behavior online as they would in public.

A good place to start is to create expectations with your kids on how they should use technology.

Here are some things to consider:

*** these rules will adjust and change as kids get older ***

• Times when they can or cannot go online, and for how long.

• Talk to your kids on who their online friends or followers are, and how they become friends.
  • Do they actually know the people that they are connected to online?

• Talk about which websites they should or should not visit, games that are appropriate or not, and why.

• What information they can share and with whom. Kids often do not realize what they post is permanent and public and once it’s on the internet it’s there forever.

• Who they should report problems or issues to, one example of this is if someone online is being a bully or creepy.

• Treat others online as they would want to be treated themselves.

• There is no obscurity online; people can find out who you are.

• People online may not be who they claim to be.

One option for older kids is to link these rules to their academic grades, completion of chores, or how they treat others around them. The better their behavior in the real world, the more they can utilize online. Once you decide on the rules, post them by the family computer or your child’s bedroom door.  If you really want to show the importance of these rules, have them review and sign a document.  That way, everyone is in full agreement.

The sooner you start talking to your kids about your expectations, the better off everyone will be. Always communicate with your kids and educate the how’s and why’s to give them a clear understanding on why these rules are in place.

Technology Security

In addition to education, there are technologies you can use to monitor and help protect your kids. We find that technical solutions work best for younger children, especially protecting them from accidentally accessing inappropriate or harmful content.You can add profiles as users for them on tablets, phones, and computer logins. However, technical controls do not work as well as children get older. Older kids not only need more access to the Internet, but often use devices that you do not control or cannot monitor, such as those issued by school, gaming consoles, or computers at a friend’s or relative’s house. This is why education is so important.

Another step is to have a dedicated computer just for your kids. With this option they cannot accidentally infect your computer, which you may use for sensitive activities, such as banking online or taxes. In addition, you can keep their computer in a public, high-traffic area so their activities can be monitored. Just because they say they are doing homework does not mean they are actually doing homework.

Finally, make sure the computer is secured, routinely backed up, and your children do not have administrator rights to it. For mobile devices, consider a central charging station somewhere in your house.  Before your children go to bed at night, have all mobile devices placed at the charging station so your children are not tempted to use them when they should be sleeping.

Lead by example! Just like anything else you teach as a parent you need to show that you are also doing the right things. This includes things like Text and Driving or taking time to put the phone down at dinner to talk to your family.