November is Child Safety and Protection Month. There is plenty of information out there about keeping kids physically safe from cuts and bruises. But as more and more youngsters have access to the internet and borrow our devices, we thought it would be a good idea to share some guidelines about keeping young ones safe when they are surfing the web or using electronics.
Be Vigilant
Just like a computer network requires personal, human eye vigilance to ensure security, so too must parents and caretakers be vigilant in keeping kids safe from the dark side of the internet. Here are some ideas on how to do that:
- Keep your eyes on web browsers at all times when kids are using them. Allow them to surf in an open area where you can always see the screen. And don’t be afraid to be a helicopter parent!
- Chaperone any online chat undertaken by a youngster. Ensure any “friend” is a real friend.
- Leverage maturity ratings. All online and boxed games contain a rating. Ensure your children are playing with age appropriate games and software.
Use Available Tools
Computer networks rely on automated software programs and equipment to automate security, so too can you employ a variety of options to provide you more help in ensuring child safety.
- Install mature content filtering software. Programs like Net Nanny can provide that protection sort of protection at a price under $50. Often these provide remote management tools giving you access to view remotely what is happening.
- Use your browser’s parental control options. Most internet browsers offer a place where you can easily set up security safeguards and content filters to prevent certain types of sites and images from breaking through. You can also use browsers just for children like KidSurf, KIDO’Z and Kidzui. Parental controls are also available on game consoles like Nintendo and PlayStation.
Establish Rules
Rules and protocols, both automated and used by employees set the course for how an organization uses the internet. Here are a few recommendations for rules to establish with your kids in order to keep them safe.
- Set a limited, age appropriate, amount of time for any internet usage.
- Keep private information private.
- Communicate only with people you know.
- Children are only allowed on age appropriate sites.
- Never meet anyone with whom you have met online only.
- Never use full names.
- Limit identifiable information in personal profiles.
- Only upload photographs that do not reveal any personal information.
- Never express personal feelings or emotions in any social media.
Educate the Kids
The human eye and tools can both help create more safety and security for your children and your organization, but too often we forget that educating the user can be one of the most important ways to ensure security. So do not be afraid to educate your young ones about the dangers out there and the proper behavior that makes safety come first. It is okay to share with them the reality of dangers in life. Ask them to share their experiences, and how they felt if something does go awry.
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