How to Set Up Parental Control
Keeping children safe online is crucial. It is therefore very important to have regular talks with your child regarding the appropriate use of technology. These conversations help you protect them and teach them about staying safe online. Experts say kids are most at risk online when they're at home. Here are some tips to help you teach your child about using technology safely.
At school, we focus on teaching kids to be responsible online citizens. But it takes time to learn these skills, and if a student keeps misusing technology, there might be consequences such as not being allowed to use their device, according to our ICT Acceptable Use Policy.
⚙️ Parental Control Recommendations
In alignment with our ICT Acceptable Use Policy, while parental controls are not mandated by the school, we encourage parents to carefully consider what protections and restrictions should be placed on their child's device based on their child's age and their own family values. Additionally, parents must take responsibility for monitoring device and internet usage outside of school.
1️⃣ Filter Inappropriate Content on Home Network
While you can install applications on devices to block specific content from being accessed, we recommend that you consider filtering inappropriate content at the network level. Some free solutions exist, such as OpenDNS Family Shield or OpenDNS Home.
2️⃣ Set up Parental Control at the Device Level
While you can prevent the student’s ability to install applications independently, we recommend that you share instructions with the homeroom teacher, in order not to impact learning activities.
Another recommended layer of protection is to set up Parental Control at the device level, such as applying restrictions for Content and Privacy settings, applications that the student can use or install, and preventing adult web content.
3️⃣ Set Clear Expectations
Regularly talk to your child about using the internet responsibly, like visiting suitable websites and behaving well online, even when you're not around. Remember, your child can access Wi-Fi outside of home through various devices like computers or cell phones. So, it's important to keep talking openly about internet safety.
The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Child Online in 2024 is a great resource to address general recommendations and allow you to make informed decisions when setting your own expectations.
4️⃣ Monitor & Limit Screen Time
While you can limit screen time via the device’s settings, we recommend that you set those restrictions to apply solely outside of school hours, in order not to impact learning activities.
Experts recommend that children use the internet in a shared space at home, like the kitchen or family room, where adults can keep an eye on them, instead of alone in their room. It's important to know what your child is doing online and how they spend their time with technology. While technology can be useful, it can also be distracting. Encourage your child to finish their tasks before going online. Learning to manage distractions is an important skill for their future, and it's best to start learning it early.
Check out Common Sense Media for more tips and recommendations around “Screen Time”.