I have tech savvy children. Yes, at the grand old ages of 4 and 5 they already seem far more confident than I am with a laptop and technology in general. I think this can only be a good thing and I am keen to teach them good habits and the importance of safety online.
Have you heard of Safer Internet Day? It will take place on the 9th February with the theme Play your part for a better internet! Co-ordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
I asked my 5 year old what he thought about the internet and what a ‘safe internet’ meant to him. He drew this brilliant picture of him playing Minecraft on the computer with me watching him. At the moment he is allowed 30 minutes to play on the computer if he has been well behaved and finished any homework. His current obsession is Minecraft and Google Maps! He knows he can only ever use a smartphone, tablet or computer if an adult is around and I’m glad this is what he thought of when I asked him what a ‘safe internet’ was.
Intel Security is helping to do this with its consumer security software products like TrueKey, security software where you sign in without passwords (using your face or fingerprint, True Key logs you in everywhere else), and McAfee LiveSafe, which provides trusted protection so you can shop, surf and keep all your devices secure online with the convenience of a single subscription.
Win a family ticket to Bletchley Park
In honour of Safer Internet Day, I have a lovely giveaway to share with you for a family ticket to Bletchley Park. We’ve visited Bletchley Park and it’s a great day out for the whole family. Run by the Government Code and Cypher School it was the central site for Britain’s codebreakers during the Second World War World War Two. The prize is a family ticket to Bletchley Park (up to 4 people), worth up to £38.50, and will end in 1 week on Safer Internet Day.
Disclosure – this post is sponsored by Intel Security
More competitions at ThePrizeFinder
Only using safe sites and keeping an eye on my children’s activity
I have Norton Security on our computers and I have just installed Norton Family on our computers for safe browsing.
To my kids, a ‘safe internet’ is an internet of online games with none of those dodgy ads with viruses. I give them a lists of sites they should use for games and being the good kids they are they stick to them… well at least I should think so!
I have filters and a shield set up on my broadband. This stops any inappropriate content being viewed on any device. My children both have tablets that are equipped with parental controls which restricts purchasing and downloads without my permission. Recently my 10 year old began receiving nasty messages from school peers whom has gotten her email address. She told me straight away and I was then able to block anything else coming through and resolve the issue with the school and parents. There has to be a level of trust and education when it comes to keeping your children safe online.
I keep all my kids passwords so I can check there accounts. I also oversee them periodically to just make sure that they are safe online.
Being able to watch/play games safely – and just that.
putting controls on the internet so I control what they go on