Children growing up in the digital era are inextricably linked to their devices. The internet and electronics are an integral part of their lives, just as they are in ours. Everyone has developed an addiction to online content, particularly video streaming.
Children as young as two years old get used to viewing videos! True, 2. And parents have some responsibility for their children’s user behavior. We will demonstrate how.
Since smartphones have become smarter, parents have maximized their use of them, even when it comes to soothing a sobbing kid. Rather than reading tales or singing lullabies, parents may play them as videos or songs and then hand them over their phones to their children to watch or listen to them. Isn’t that so?
This is one of the primary reasons youngsters develop an early affinity for mobile phones and other devices.
When these behaviors begin at a very early age, they may develop into an addiction as they mature. Several things that may happen to children in today’s technologically advanced society include the following:
- Children may develop an addiction to mobile phones and will be unable to function without them for even a second.
- They become completely reliant on their mobile devices and gadgets from the minute they wake up until they go to sleep.
- Children ultimately develop an aptitude for utilizing the phone’s and social media’s many functions.
- They may even begin to spend more time in the virtual world and lose touch with reality.
- Children may also acquire a variety of mental health problems as a result of their phone, internet, or social media addictions.
- Additionally, children who spend an excessive amount of time on their phones tend to lack interpersonal skills.
Thus, monitoring your child’s internet use is critical from an early age.
For children ages 3-6, the following suggestions may be helpful:
- Allow children to use the devices only under your supervision.
- The time restriction should not exceed 30 minutes to an hour.
- While streaming, filter out the content.
Utilizing devices with caution
Children between the ages of three and six should be provided mobile phones, tablets, or tablets only when a parent or an adult is present. They should not be permitted to use cell phones alone. Among the potential consequences of unsupervised mobile phone usage by children are the following:
By accident, unsuitable tabs are opened.
Making a mistaken call/text to anybody.
These events may seem amusing at the time, but they will ultimately lead your kid down a different road if you do not intervene.
Restriction of screen time
Screen time should not exceed one hour or thirty minutes for children ages 3-6. Apart from school schedules, which have been made available online in the aftermath of the epidemic, children should be allowed no more than one hour of mobile time. This, too, should only be done under the supervision of authorized personnel. A time restriction of more than one hour should be avoided, since youngsters may develop an attachment to these online platforms or the material they see.
Content filtering
It is critical to filter content while allowing your kid to use your phone. Your youngsters are too young to comprehend all they encounter on the internet. The content does not have to be exclusively adult; it may be about an app that is not suitable for children or a film that should not be exposed to children under the age of 18.
Disabling alerts for certain applications while your kid uses your phone may be one method of content filtering.
Children between the ages of 7 and 12 have a far greater understanding of the internet than toddlers do. They are adept at using these devices and doing online content searches as well. As a result, supervising children at this age may be a little more complex than dealing with toddlers.
For parents of children aged 7-13, some suggestions include the following:
- Apart from schoolwork, there is a time limit of no more than two hours.
- For age-restricted applications, privacy should be enabled.
- Content filtering by age.
Extended time limit
Children between the ages of 7 and 12 should have unrestricted access to the internet. Apart from schoolwork, children should be allowed a maximum of two hours of safe internet usage. Children should not be permitted to play for longer than the allotted period since this may ultimately result in addiction.
Configuration of privacy settings
Children should be given devices that have privacy restrictions. Parents who give their children mobile phones should activate privacy settings for certain applications and features to ensure that youngsters are not distracted or able to view and access age-inappropriate content.
Filtration of content according to age
As said before, content filtering is critical when it comes to technology and the internet. When parents give over mobile phones to their young children, they should exercise caution about content filtering online or on specific apps.
Children over the age of 13 have access to the majority of social media sites, and even YouTube has a good deal of content geared towards this age group. To manage healthy usage for youngsters above the age of 13, parents must be very cautious and also delicate. Children over the age of 13 are in the adolescent and pre-adolescent phases of development before they are completely grown enough to comprehend the online world. Thus, their mental condition should be considered before issuing specific directions.
- Parents should establish limits on their children’s use of social media.
- Children should be provided with a schedule of screen time activities.
- Which applications are appropriate for usage should be determined together.
Access to social media
Children aged 13 and older are permitted to use social media sites such as Instagram or Facebook. Since these applications are so appealing and engaging, youngsters tend to get interested in them and become immersed in the digital world.
Thus, a social media calendar is critical for keeping your children on track with their use of these applications.
Schedule of screen time activities
We are aware that we are placing an excessive amount of emphasis on screen time activities. However, this point is critical regardless of your child’s age or until they learn how to utilize these applications. In this instance, youngsters should be provided a timetable to restrict their screen usage outside of work, rather than being ordered to do so.
Mutual agreement on application installation
Children like being active in a variety of venues. However, as a parent, you are aware of which platforms are healthy and which are not. Rather than teaching people by dictating what they should and should not do, you may choose to converse with them and help them comprehend your point of view. Because children over the age of 13 have a distinct mentality, regulating them would be inappropriate.
Apart from the aforementioned minor suggestions, conversing with them about the advantages and disadvantages of the internet and teaching them how to utilize it improves your parenting skills. Discussing social media and its appropriate usage with children might be more beneficial than just regulating them.
Not only that, but the most effective method of reining in your children is to utilize parental control software such as Mobicip. This software allows you to monitor your children’s internet activity while also preventing them from accessing unfiltered content. Additionally, they can assist you with limiting screen time and enabling safe video screening content.
This parental control software simplifies parenting and assists you in keeping your kid safe online!
We hope these suggestions will help you in monitoring your child’s internet use from an early age. Have a safe surfing experience!