{"id":1760,"date":"2017-01-10T19:10:35","date_gmt":"2017-01-10T19:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nannyjob.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1760"},"modified":"2017-01-10T19:10:35","modified_gmt":"2017-01-10T19:10:35","slug":"a-guide-to-keeping-children-safe-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nannyjob.co.uk\/blog\/a-guide-to-keeping-children-safe-online\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Keeping Children Safe Online"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gone are the days when children needed to ask parent\u2019s permission to use the family computer to access the internet. The internet is now easily accessible to most children. With tablets, smartphones, laptops and games consoles, it can be hard to keep track of what children are doing and if they\u2019re being safe online.<\/p>\n

The internet isn\u2019t all bad. It\u2019s actually pretty amazing. The variety of websites, apps and other tools available allow children to play, learn and connect. To help encourage learning new skills, whilst also putting your mind at ease, we\u2019ve put together this short guide to help keep children safe online.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Discuss Online Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as your child is old enough to start using the internet you should start discussing online safety with them. You can do things like explain the importance of passwords and remind them not to talk to strangers (even if they can\u2019t see their face).<\/p>\n

Top Tip: <\/strong>Encourage older children to visit CBBC Stay-Safe<\/a> where they can access games and videos to help them understand how to stay safe online and not fall victim to cyberbullying.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Set Parental Controls<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some devices, such as the Amazon Fire for Kids tablet, are intuitive and allow you to specify the content shown based on the age of the child using the device and will also allow you to create profiles specific to each child (or age).<\/p>\n

These types of devices are perfect to help prevent your child from accessing unsuitable content and often include features that allow you to limit screen-time by shutting down the device after it has been used for a certain period of time.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a good idea to check and set parental controls on any other devices such as smartphones and laptops or contact your internet provider who may be able to do this for you.<\/p>\n

More information on setting parental controls<\/a> can be found on the NSPCC website.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Explore Together<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important, especially with young children, to explore the internet with them to ensure that they understand what to do and what not to do. This will also help you to identify any unsuitable content that needs to be blocked.<\/p>\n

You can also use this method to discuss the internet and encourage your child to talk to you if they have any questions or concerns.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Set Clear Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n

Set clear rules for your children such as:<\/p>\n