How To Make Internet Safe For Kids: Secret Weapon For Parents

From dodging Lego landmines to surfing the wild web, the internet can be a scary place, especially for your little ones.

Questionable content, weird memes, cyberbullying, and the never-ending feed of cat videos can eat up your entire weekend. And it’s enough reason for parents to get alarmed at the sight of their kids surfing the Internet more than usual.

Want to figure out how you can make the Internet a safe place for kids but don’t want to go through the boring Internet safety tips covering up your entire feed? Read this article to find out some unique tips and approaches that could help you make the Internet a safe playground for your kids. 

Screen Swap Challenge

Take out weekly time to sit back with your child and ask them about their favorite websites they came across that week. You might even suggest some good educational or learning websites for learning a new skill or helping them with a topic. This approach keeps you updated about your child’s online activities while ensuring their online safety.

Wifi Fairy

This is yet another fun concept where a hypothetical WiFi fairy turns on the WiFi for good behavior. However, if the child misuses the Internet, this fairy might just take a nap. This habit will ensure responsible use of the Internet, which is a much better way than punishment.

Password Protector

Online safety is crucial, and creating strong passwords for websites is an important aspect of it. You can teach your child to use password protector software that will keep their passwords safe and be a backup in case they fail to remember them. You may create stories to teach such aspects since storytelling has been proven to be effective in making kids learn things faster.

The Educational Approach

Did you know that your little one can learn online safety faster when turned into a game? Several studies have shown that children’s learning and retention skills improve significantly when taught through gamification. You may look for apps and websites that will help you teach your little ones through engaging quizzes and activities.

Tech-Free Sessions

Sometimes, the addiction to mobile devices may be so strong that staying away from them might seem overwhelming. If this is the case with your kids too, you need to work on this.

You can begin by scheduling tech-free sessions, whether it’s while having dinner, an hour in the evening, or right before they go to bed. This will ensure a healthy balance between their social and digital lives. Gradually, increase this time so that the screen time reduces further. While this will effectively improve their sleep quality, they will be able to utilize this time for something productive.