Secure and Protect Online Kids

---

From newborns to high-schoolers, kids are overwhelmingly online. Companies have made user-interfaces that helps kids easily learn to navigate devices. Each household has different rules for their kids interacting with tech, but what should you do?

Early development can be disrupted by TVs always being on and we notice kids are drawn to these things. Our phones, remotes, computers and other tech are so interesting to our kids. By changing the way we interact with tech, our kids will naturally learn from us. Here are a few things you can do to mature these interactions.

TVs off until 2 years. If you must watch it while your baby is in the room, block the view and keep the volume low.  Put your devices out of sight while your baby is watching. Hide your phone in a book if you must be on it. Configure parental controls to lock devices after a set timeframe. Use router controls to boot devices from the internet during certain timeframes.

Block all apps except those you have approved. Nefarious actors can and will target through games and seemingly kid-friendly websites. Targeted advertisements work on kids, make sure they know not to trust anything online without proper guidance.

Watch the shows before they do, play the games before they do and listen to the conversations and who they are had with. Talk to them about their recent interactions online. Know when your front door opens and who opened it. Know who is looking through your cameras and connecting to your network.

Your kids will have some interaction with tech unless you’ve moved to the middle of nowhere. Show them some of the many dangers of interacting online. Establish basic safeguards and protocols in various scenarios. Practice using tech for good enablement instead of scrolling.

When you take the device back from your kids you can use the apps they frequent and search for things you want them to see. Subscribe to channels you approve of. Even talking in front of the devices that have certain listening permissions enabled. 

Help your kids spend time outdoors and playing with toys that nurture creativity and independence from technology. An occasional media and tech fast can offer serious benefits to the whole family.

Practice good cyber-hygiene and explain what you do to protect your data. Manage your strong passwords and never share them. Update devices and patch software as needed. Be prepared for incidents.