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5 Top Tips to Help Keep Kids Safe Online

By November 14, 2022 Article

Anti-Bullying Week (14th-18th November)

1 – Keep track of their time online

The use of devices to entertain and inform children is becoming increasingly common and hard to avoid, especially given the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on daily life and learning. For example, limit screen time to one hour a day for 2-5 year-olds to avoid the likelihood of behavioural problems and irregular sleep patterns.

2 – Set rules and boundaries

Your kids may not have personal mobile phones yet, so the use of family devices such as ipads is quite common. If the online source is used by all the family, make sure you are sharing it fairly and have agreed times, monitoring screen time, as well as utilising tools to monitor and manage usage.

3 – Manage parental and privacy controls

It is vital that you log out of your own online accounts when letting the kids loose online. Furthermore, if any concerns arise about what your kids may be accessing, then check the privacy settings on websites/social media and adjust parental controls where necessary.

4 – Be open to talk about online safety with them

Some topics can be taboo, but it is vital to build these conversations little and often. Enquire as to what your kids watch/browse online and who their online friends are and try and inform yourself by asking other parents their approach. However you choose to broach these conversations, make sure to share these rules with other caregivers and family members.

5 – Make sure you know who their online friends are

The age in which some children take to social media is getting ever younger, and it is important that you make your kids aware of the dangers of strangers online through messages, games, and social networking. Make clear who they can add or talk to and show them how they can act to block or report someone.

Courtesy of Proxyrack 

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Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.