Keeping Kids Safe Online

How to help your kids form healthy habits online

Today, being a parent also means managing the way your kids interact and engage online – but because they all use the internet in a myriad of different ways, it can be difficult to navigate the best possible route.

One thing we know for sure is that the digital world is here to stay, and although it runs the risk of exposure to adverse outcomes, there are a plethora of educational and social benefits to be had, too.

When we asked director of the Beacon Cyber Safety App Professor Donna Cross, and Digital Projects Manager of the Beacon Cyber Safety App Bec Nguyen for expert advice on how parents can play a pivotal role in establishing and cultivating healthy online habits, she said with the right support and safety parameters technology can be an enriching experience to promote: academic achievement through learning and creativity, digital literacy and social interactions and skills to build relationships.

“Parents can then be empowered to move beyond blocking and banning and help keep their child/family safe online while building healthy online habits for life,” Professor Cross said.

CREATE A FAMILY AGREEMENT Having an effective family agreement is about building a positive relationship with your children.

“It ensures that technology can be enjoyed in a safe and mutually acceptable manner,” Professor Cross said.

Even very young children can be involved in making an agreement and it is never too late to involve your teen.

“This gives an opportunity for everyone in the family to be part of the discussion and to have input into the type of technology use and when and where it is acceptable,” Ms Nguyen said.

HAVE CONVERSATIONS EARLY AND OFTEN It is never too early to start having conversations with your child about their online use and behaviour. Equally, it is never too late.

Some conversation starters about online safety could include: What should you do if someone you don’t know contacts you online? What should you do if you feel uncomfortable?

“When having the conversations, plan when and where they will occur, listen, don’t judge, ask questions, get help if you feel concerned,” Ms Nguyen said.

MAKE USE OF THE PARENTAL CONTROLS Get to know the devices you and your family use and set them up for privacy and online safety.

“Take advantage of devices, games and apps privacy settings for screen time, content, and access restrictions,” Ms Nguyen said.

Remember to check them regularly for updates.

LEARN WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Understand the signs of cyberbullying and other online potential harms, and where to go to get help.

“Beacon provides you with support services to help you and your family in times of need,” Professor Cross said.

“It has direct links to the eSafety Commissioner to report cyber bullying and image-based abuse.”

ROLE MODELLING BALANCE Children learn what they see, so check in on your own online habits.

“When using your devices, say that you are checking the news or paying for bills – not always on Facebook or Instagram,” Ms Nguyen said.

Stick to the family agreement if you have agreed on no tech at dinner time!

To create healthy habits online, we need to approach it the same way as learning a new skill. The same way we teach and support children as they learn to swim, we can teach and support children to use technology safely.

The online world moves at a rapid pace, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed as a parent. Telethon Kids Institute and Bankwest are proud to deliver Beacon - a free cyber safety educational app designed to keep parents and carers up to date with trusted information, to help keep their kids safe online. It’s the cyber safety app all parents should have.