Keeping your kids safe online this summer
The internet is a great place for students, with online learning and tools to stay in touch with friends and family, but there are also risks. Cyberbullying, scams and inappropriate content are just some issues parents should be aware of. Excessive screen time also has downsides, and has been shown to have long term effects on children’s cognitive development.
With the summer holidays now upon us, students have a lot of time on their hands. At times it can be a challenge for parents to balance entertaining their kids without using devices and technology, especially when they only have so much annual leave they can use.
With the help of some of our team members (and parents) here at Edstart, we’ve put some tips together to help keep your kids safe online and balance screen time over summer.
Creating safe habits online
Have conversations with your kids about the realities of the digital landscape. Talk with them openly and lead by example, it is a more compelling way to teach how opposed to simply telling them what to do.
When his daughter wanted to open an Instagram account, our Regional Manager Bruce got her to write up a contract outlining how she was going to use it. The contract included permissions, posting rules, anti-bullying, security, and privacy. They signed the contract and his daughter put it up on her wall as a reminder of how to be safe and responsible online.
Exploring platforms together
Keeping up with the platforms your kids are using will let you understand any risks involved, and the holiday season provides the perfect opportunity to explore new technologies together. Reading articles together is also beneficial - try articles from a kid’s perspective of the downsides of tech usage as well as the benefits of non-device activity.
Engaging with technology together, such as playing video games can be a bonding opportunity and a chance to educate them. See it as an opportunity to teach them the skills required to safely navigate the online world.
Using tech to find your family’s balance
Parental control applications help keep kids safe online while managing screen time. Depending on what devices your family uses, iPhone Screen Time controls and Google’s Family Link are effective tools to monitor and moderate kids' time online and can be tailored to each family's needs. See how much time kids spend on their devices, keep track of where they are, control access to platforms, privacy settings and more. In addition to your peace-of-mind, it also helps kids be more aware of how much time they’re spending online.Managing screen time
Finding the right screetime balance is a challenge, especially with so much spare time over the holidays. Our Customer Success Associate Daniela takes a holistic approach to time management with her family, incorporating a diverse range of activities such as chores, reading, arts, and sports. She sets clear expectations regarding technology usage - setting expectations that devices aren’t always immediately available, they’re another activity her kids can use in addition to their other household responsibilities. If her kids go above and beyond during the week, they can earn more device time as a result.
Bernie, our Head of Partner Success, recommends a mix of tech-free and device related activities. Around the home her daughters play in the pool, do baking, painting and build cubby houses. Getting out of the home is also important and they enjoy heading to the city. Her younger daughter loves riding on ferries, trains and buses, while the eldest listens to her favourite tunes and tries to keep standing while the ferry passes through the Sydney Heads. Both girls love their food, so lunch in Chinatown before seeing what’s happening around Darling Park is often on their to-do list.
Teach your kids the reality of the online world
While it's important to create opportunities for your kids to get away from their devices there are times where you can’t avoid or control it. As it’s such a big part of life now, rather than avoiding it, parents should encourage their kids to build healthy habits with technology.
Our Chief Technology Officer (and father of one) Jonas suggests having constructive conversations with your kids about the reality and dangers of the internet and technology. Be exploratory in these discussions and talk about the impact that content can have on self-esteem, understanding and emotions.
Like the world in general, the large majority of people online are good natured, however there are a small number of people with bad intentions. Having open discussions about this will help keep them safe and teach them an important skill for the future, as no age group is unaffected by online threats.
About Edstart
Edstart is a leading technology and financial services company providing funding and payment services for education. We offer fee management solutions to schools and flexible payment plans to parents to help make school fees easier to manage.
To see how we can help you, visit our main website.
Find out more
Edstart is a leading technology and financial services company providing funding and payment services for education. We offer fee management solutions to schools and flexible payment plans to parents to help make school fees easier to manage.
To see how we can help you, visit our main website.
Find out more