Top 3 Online Safety Questions from Parents - How do I Keep My Kids Safe Online?- Unplug & Plug In Podcast Episode 8

 
 

Wouldn't it be interesting to learn what other parents ask about online safety and their kids?

Today host Lisa Honold has put together a list of questions that parents send in or ask at events all the time so that you can hear her answers.

Topic: The Top Three Questions Parents Ask about Online Safety

“Before diving into these questions, ground yourself in what really matters - your relationship with your child or teen. Without a solid relationship, trying to rely on an app or parental control, it's just not going to work. That's not where we start. An app or parental control is a tool, but that's not where it starts. There are way too many ways around parental controls, too many loopholes. So working on your relationship and making sure that you're involving the child and not over controlling will be. What does this look like?

It looks like conversations. It looks like sitting with them, noticing what they're doing, asking questions, finding out what's great about technology that they're using and what they wish was different. There's just lots of conversations to be had. And the good news is you don't have to know the answers to all your questions.”

Lisa Honold

Top Three Online Safety Questions

  1. My child is obsessed with _____ (fill in the blank-some game or app). They're sneaking time, they're begging for five more minutes, we're arguing constantly, they're driving me crazy! What can I do?

  2. I know I need an internet filter at my house but where do I find a strong filter that keeps out most of the garbage?

  3. What about all the school technology - the Chromebooks that are coming home from school? The distractions that my child sees online? How do I help my child stay on track at school? How do I know the devices coming home from school are safe?

⭐Plus - a Bonus Question!⭐ Where do I start with online safety for my family?

Listen to the full episode here.

Important links and resources

Internet filters

  • Netgear routers like the Orbi and Nighthawk + a subscription to Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls Premium ($70 per year) offer strong parental controls, screen time limits, website history reports and content filtering.

  • Bark Home (one time cost of $79) is a device that plugs into your existing router at home and adds parental controls. When you combine Bark Home with a Bark for Families monitoring subscription ($11 per month), you get a strong system for filtering and monitoring screen time, at home and on the go. ***BARK includes monitor + filter.**

Conversation starters and questions to ask your child's school

Five Actions to take today: The Five Circles of Safety

  • Here is an article on the five things parents can do today to protect their kids online. The actions spell out FAMILY and they're mentioned briefly in this episode.

Next Steps

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The Online Behavior of Kids During the Pandemic - KOAT News - January 31, 2022

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The Unintended Consequences of Smart Phones on Early Childhood with guest Hillary Wilkinson of Healthy Screen Habits - Unplug & Plug In Podcast Episode 7