With the onset of Covid-19 and the lockdown restrictions currently in place, families are spending more time together. We have all grown accustomed to the internet, and due to the restrictions, we will spend more time than usual online. The internet is a great place to learn and stay in touch with others, but it is also not always safe, especially for kids. Children spend a lot of time online for schoolwork, connecting with friends, and playing games. Whether you’re teaching letter sounds or playing video games with your little ones on the internet, here are a few tips to keep your kids safe online during the lockdown.

Be one unit

To keep your kids safe, the whole family must become one unit. Any information must flow through the unit, and everyone must be aware of what the next person is doing online at all times. Talk to the children, find out what they are up to online, and show them how to stay safe. They should feel safe talking to you about anything that upsets them online.

If possible, draw up a timetable of activities that your child does online, making it easier to track their online presence. Speak to them and find out why they need to use certain apps or play some games and not others. Make rules that ensure their safety online and, if need be, create unique settings that require your permission before they can access certain websites.

Be flexible

The internet plays a crucial role in many people’s lives at the moment due to restrictions. Additionally, a significant part of their daily interaction with friends and colleagues revolves around the internet. So being rigid about internet use or online access can be quite detrimental. You can be flexible, especially with extended hours for the children. However, make it a point to be serious and honest with your children about the rules you have made to keep them safe online. Remind them to approach you with all their concerns and questions so that you can talk it over and find an approach that is safe for everyone.

Know who your children interact with

Staying in touch with friends and family through the internet is excellent in these trying times. But with kids playing games online with people worldwide, interacting in game rooms, and being on social media, you cannot know for sure who your child is talking to. The internet is not always a safe place, and children can be easily targeted for cyberbullying or be tricked into revealing sensitive information that can be used harmfully.

Be sure to continually check on your kids and know who they have been interacting with online. Remind them not to share personal or sensitive information with anyone online. Let them understand the implication of letting a stranger have such information. You should also teach them about the options at their disposal, such as the block and report buttons if they feel unsafe. Please continue to monitor and supervise their online activities. Although this may seem time-consuming, it is better than leaving them with unfettered access to the internet.

Be abreast with video

With solid internet connectivity, video content is reigning supreme such that all major social media have embedded some video stream on their networks. From Facebook to Twitter, to Instagram and TikTok, videos are being created and shared at high rates. Know the different types of video content that are produced and understand how they work. The three main types of video content are video chatting, video sharing, and live streaming. Talk to your children, know if they create any, and let them know safe ways to create or engage in such content.

Get interested in gaming

Online games have such an appeal with kids because it enables them to compete with friends and strangers from across the globe. It is also a way to express their creativity and improve their cognitive abilities. They can also learn new skills that may be practical. It is essential to understand why your child loves a particular game and spends a lot of time playing it. So, acquaint yourself with their favorite game and find out if it is appropriate for their age bracket. If there is a chat room, see how the interactions go on. And before you let your child play a new game online, check it out first to see if it is safe for them.

Stick to the appropriate age and content ratings

Age and content ratings exist to ensure that children of certain ages are not exposed to certain things that will disrupt their outlook on life. Please check all the games and activities they engage in online to ensure they fit their age ratings. This will in turn help keep your kids safe online. We tend to look on Common Sense Media to get a gauge of recommended ages.

Use safety software

Using safety software for all online interactions in the home is a great way to keep your kids safe. This ensures that you can track all online activities and even restrict access to specific sites and games. Your children would then have to seek permission before they can log in or participate in certain online activities. These safety apps can be easily installed on your smartphone and are easy to set up.

Show them how to spot ‘red flags’

More often than not, your child has a better grasp of technology than you do, but you have experience beyond their years that you can draw on. Let them know they can open up to you if they have any issues online. Teach them how to relate with others online and have a healthy suspicion of people who want to ask for sensitive information or suggest things that they are not comfortable with. Create an environment where they can openly talk about what they see or engage online so that you can teach them about red flags and have an idea of what they have been up to.

To keep your children safe online during lockdown is to have honest and open conversations with them about online safety, manage their time online, and have the appropriate settings in place to restrict access. But always remember to adapt your approach as you gain fresh insight and new information.