How to Keep your Kids Safe and Sane Online
Parents and carers are often concerned about their child’s safety online, especially when it comes to gaming. With more e-games like Minecraft and Fortnite on the rise, it is important for any parent or carer to know how to safeguard their children on the web and what to consider when it comes to e-safety.
With gaming addiction on the rise as the NHS launched its first national pilot programme for treating 12 to 20 year old online gaming addicts and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) announced to classify gaming addiction as a medical disorder in 2018, there appears to be a real threat on the horizon. So, what can be done?
Parents need to Set clear Rules
Parents first of all need to understand e-safety as it covers many aspects of children’s conduct online such as inappropriate content, sexting, online porn, online games, livestreaming and video apps, social media sites and apps and parental controls. The NSPCC offer a variety of resources and tips for parents in all those areas and concerned parents can contact them. Worried children can look for help and advice via the Childline.
In order to “train” children from early on how to discipline themselves with their use of digital devices and online activities, adults can support them by leading as an example of course. The rules they set for the use of online gadgets should apply to everyone in the household, however, children must also understand that they have different needs. See some of the expert tips by iaps.uk on how you can establish and manage such rules:
- Creating a rule book for online use at home and outside – if someone breaks those rules a possible penalty like a reduction of screen time could be agreed.
- Limiting screen time and ensuring you can get access easily to your child while they’re engaged with a gadget, e.g. they’re not locked in their room
- Agree no screens before school – at mealtimes – at bedtimes
- Trial OUR PACT – an app allowing you to switch off the apps on your child’s phone, and to a schedule
- Trial CIRCLE WITH DISNEY – an application that claims you can manage all devices in your home setting time limits and turning off individual apps.
- Young people can download FOREST helping them to control their own screen time. They plant a seed and a forest grows in the app, the more time you spend on your phone less trees grow. Proving popular with young people to help focus during exam times.
Children need Skills to Manage their own Online Activity
Nowadays, many smartphones and tablets offer monitoring tools, which allow the user to see how much time they spend using certain apps or doing specific online 
activities. There are also online products to help you with that such as Norton Family Premier, which can be used on all devices the children use at any time.
Look at the results together and discuss reasons and solutions for reducing screen time. Let your child come up with reachable targets for their online activities so they can achieve them. Agree on other activities they can do with the time they save being away from their gadgets to offer motivation.
If you feel you need more guidance in this matter have a look at the informative and resourceful website “Digital Parenting Coach” where you can download a guide for parents amongst other useful tips. If your child is into gaming, you can learn more about everything parents should know about Minecraft gaming.
Another way to empower children to learn managing their online presence safely and responsibly first hand is to start their own blog or online journal. Under adult supervision creating and running a blog can offer the learner many opportunities to improve their digital skills to become an educated digital citizen.
Children should be learning the digital skills that are required to manage digital devices and activities responsibly, ensuring their e-safety and well-being online. This will also be beneficial for their future career path as the future of work focuses increasingly more on digital work in most industries.
You can have a look at the outlook provided by the OECD in terms of how work will be influenced by technology and what this means for employment, schooling, work training and higher education. Many retailers have been impacted by the pandemic and are moving online as more customers shop online. The same trend applies to the food industry, media and press industry, education and health care industry and many more.
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