As parents, we all know how important it is to provide our children with all the love and care we can give. After all, their development and growth into confident and productive individuals depend entirely on our participation throughout their journey. However, there are factors outside your control that could end up controlling your kids in turn. The environment and the culture where they grow up have a direct impact on their emotional and physical well-being.
That said, we can look no further than the Internet as the most influential of these factors, considering the fact that information sharing has become so immediate that exposure to cultural trends comes quicker in children. No doubt, there is “good Internet” and there is “bad Internet.” We tap the good side of the Internet when we need to experience wholesome, educational fun with the kids. Bad Internet is exactly the opposite of this side as it encourages deviant behavior.
The so-called “Momo challenge” has recently swept the globe and caused widespread panic. Before it was proven to be a hoax, it had come to a point in which hysteria took over. One thing’s for sure, parents have all the leeway they can have to regulate Internet usage for their kids.
If you’re just as concerned as the next mom over your your children’s use of the Internet, here are a few things you might want to consider.
- Use child-safety features
Web browsers and search engines are installed with child-safety extensions that monitor your kids’ activity online. Other than that, these extensions can also help filter out content that’s not kid-friendly so your children won’t accidentally come across bad things like Momo in their search results. So, before you let your kids play on the desktop or the phone, make sure to turn on the child safety features.
- Know what your kids are playing
Being a helicopter parent isn’t exactly a good thing, but when it comes to knowing what our kids watch on YouTube or the games they play such as a psychopath test goes a long way. For one, it protects your child from videos masquerading as his or her favorite cartoon characters. So, be sure to be present at all times and make a list of channels that you deem should not be blocked.
- Be wary of shady sites
There are tons of shady sites online, and it could be too complicated to even start sorting which sites are good for kids and which ones aren’t. Nonetheless, you need to be aware of shady sites and create a list that should include sites your little one is not allowed to visit.
- Maintain your rules
Once you have set up the ground rules on Internet usage, it’s only a matter of implementing them. For sure, this should involve all members of the family. From this, you can establish reasonable penalties or talk with your children on why they keep on breaking these rules. That way, you can get a better understanding of what makes online controversies so dangerously appealing.
Bad Internet can be inimical to your children’s emotional and cognitive health, so you have to work hard toward keeping the Internet within the realm of the good.
This is such an important reminder that more parents need to read. Unfortunately i feel like not as much are putting in the effort to properly supervise their kids.
Yep. Turn on that child-safety features. Prevention is always better than cure.
I completely agree with your tips on how to keep children safe on the internet, when I first heard of the Momo challenge I contacted my mother to warn her. Then I spoke to my youngest sibling. I explained what it was and the reason why they should be careful of what they watch online. I am glad I did because now they are comfortable discussing those things with me.
every parent need this for sure
internet safety is not longer something to be taken lightly. There is so much craziness going on on the internet this issue has become essential. Thanks a lot for the awesome tips.
I couldn’t agree less ,all the tips you gave will go a long way if strictle adhere to.
This is such an important topic to be discussed. We should be really paying attention to our kids especially when using the internet.
I ahve 3 kids and they were now using the internet and I am very strict about it. It is better to be safe nowadays.
Thank you for these tips. These can truly help parents protect their kids. I have been doing these things lately.
I also think another one to add is make them aware of dangers, but not scare them. Teach them why safety is importance, and as they get older, show them examples of things that went wrong with other peers.