The internet moves fast — you feel that keenly when you have children. No matter their age, they're going to grow up in a very different online world than you did. How can you look after them when you have trouble keeping up? You need a continuously updated toolkit to face this problem with confidence.
That's where we come in. In this article, we'll uncover the tools you need to help you keep your kids safe without unplugging the router from your wall. From simple conversational tactics to the insights offered by Norton 360 Deluxe with Parental Control, we'll get you up to speed on the latest risks to make sure you're constantly protected.
Today, we're focusing on the experience of elementary school–aged students. These digital natives are just figuring out how to interact with the internet, and you can help make their first experiences positive. The internet moves fast, but with the help of Norton's family of products, you'll keep up. Read on to see our top tips.
Open communication
This is a parenting tip as old as time. It's essential to maintain open communication between you and your child to avoid any surprises. Your child should feel comfortable coming to you to talk through the new world they're entering. Teaching children the basics of online usage that we may take for granted is critical. Make sure they're aware of things like never telling anyone online who they are and not engaging with people who are obviously ill-intentioned. Just as vital? If things look too good to be true, they generally are.
Site filtering
One of the most prevalent ways to control your child’s internet use is to steer them away from questionable and objectionable material. Norton 360 Deluxe's Web Supervision offers tools that let you block unsuitable websites. If your child disagrees with the assessment, they can use the Access Request feature to let you know they'd like to interact with a blocked site. No matter what, these filtering tools will give you critical feedback on the kinds of places your child is trying to visit.
Limiting online access
Listen, we've all stayed up too late doing a whole lot of nothing on the internet. Elementary school kids, believe it or not, have even less self-control than we do. Scheduling online (and offline) time ensures your child doesn't become a sleep-deprived, online zombie. Norton 360 Deluxe helps you do this by allowing you to schedule specific times of the day or week that each device can be used, and how many hours your child can spend on those devices. While you’re at it, use the Instant Lock feature to pause the internet during family meals or movie nights. Maybe use that as an excuse to take a break yourself. I promise, you'll be happy you were more present in those important moments.
Location supervision
The days of wandering around without parental supervision are long gone. Keeping track of your kids is more important than ever, and Norton 360 Deluxe gives you a ton of different ways to do so. You can use the map tool to see a 30-day history of their device's location. With the Favorite Locations feature, you can set approved boundaries and get an alert if they go outside of them. You can also set up automated alerts for specific times. Does your child get off the school bus at their grandparents' house? This lets you check in on them every weekday to make sure they arrived safely.
Better browsing
The internet can provide a child with a wealth of information to use while doing homework or exploring their interests.. Sometimes, that requires a little searching. That's why you have to be proactive about the kinds of content your child can access. Norton 360 Deluxe lets you see a list of the YouTube videos your kids watch on their PCs or iOS devices. You can even check out a section of each video to see what they're engaging with. Mobile App Supervision gives you a look at what apps your kids are downloading on their Android devices and lets you choose which ones they can use. Finally, you can also see what terms your kids are searching for with Search Supervision. This won't just help you keep them safe from inappropriate content, but it'll also help you get to know your child's interests.
Stay in the loop
The most important aspect of any parenting decision is your intention. How involved do you want to be? Norton 360 Deluxe offers several ways to engage. Log onto the Parent Mobile App from your Android or iOS mobile device to keep tabs on your child's online activities while out and about. When your kid tries to access a blocked site, you'll get an email alert, opening the door to a conversation between the two of you. The Parent Portal gives you easy access to the settings across all your devices in one convenient place. Finally, you can choose to receive weekly or monthly summaries of your child's online activity in your email inbox.
Have other questions? Not sure how to start the conversation? Be sure to check out Norton's partnership with the National PTA, The Smart Talk. Covering topics like screen time, social media and cyberbullying, The Smart Talk offers guidance on how to keep your kids responsible in this new digital world. Find what works best for you and your child. Together, you can build habits they'll use their whole lives.
