It happens more regularly that we are receiving an e-mail or message and have concerns whether it is a scam or not.

More so with virtual schooling and social distancing guidelines in place as this causes even our children to spend more of their time online and often unsupervised.  And I am talking to myself here as I experience having to trust my child with being online, as I am physically not always able to be around due to work and more and more schoolwork being online.

Online dangers appear in most of the innocent - or so we think - or it seems places like games aimed at kids.  I heard a colleague explaining her experience with a game her child played online and it made me realize that we have to check and double check more than we think.

So because I am not so clued up on these things I, although I try to be for safety of my child and of course even at our workplace, I found these tips while browsing and hope it can help some of the parents who are also trying to keep up to date and prevent scams through our online devices.

Gaming

Apparently nearly every game comes with some kind of online function, whether it be game chat or micro transactions for in game currencies.  If gaming is part of your household note the following:

• Only let your kids set up private chats with trusted friends.
• Talk to your kids about what to expect and set clear limits and rules like only keeping chats

  Relevant to the game, no personal information given out.

• Make sure you know how to set restrictions in the app store preventing kids to download specific games and in- game purchases.

• Cyberbullying

• Teach them to respect and follow age requirement rules
• Use parental approval settings for groups and networks
• Friend and or follow your child to monitor their posts
• Openly discuss what is acceptable and respectful to post or view
• Teach your child to stop if they notice anything strange, think and never share personal information

   

   

  Safety plan

  I really got some good tips here:

• Change the default passwords on new toys and gadgets
• Disable photo tagging
• Change passwords on you Wi-Fi routers and establish control of access times and website category blocking
• Set up non-administrative accounts on devices so you can access them
• Make sure every one in the household knows only to connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks.

We have an agreement so to say regarding online devices as I have noticed that some 2 year olds already realize how to work with cell phones and other devices.  The sooner we talk to our kids openly and educate not only them but ourselves, the better.  I know nothing is bullet proof but we can surely try to assist and educate each.

Be safe…..