6 Screen checks to do before school starts
With schools reopening and the new year bustling with possibilities, it’s time to spring clean, organise and get ready. The same goes for digital spaces.
Before things get busy (and they already are) make sure to run our 6 easy checks over your child’s screen to ensure they are safe and ready to take on 2022.
- Have your turned off location services?
- Do you have filtering software installed?
- Do you have a screen agreement or tech charter in your home?
- Have you had the difficult conversations?
- Has your child had any digital life skills education?
- Do you check their devices from time to time?
Read on for more detail on each:
HAVE YOU TURNED OFF LOCATION SERVICES?
Ensure that location services are disabled on their devices as well as on the apps that they frequent.
DO YOUR HAVE FILTERING SOFTWARE INSTALLED?
The best internet filters don’t only block websites but also provide a way to control the time your son or daughter spends playing games online or surfing the web. Some even send alerts when ‘watch words’ are texted to their devices so you can safeguard them from harm no matter where they are.
There are many filtering solutions and some of them are completely free. The more control you’d like to have, the more options there are for in-app purchases to manage your child’s devices.
Bark is a user friendly filtering app that keeps up with technology and trends. We recommend Bark to all parents who give their children access to the internet- be it via an online game, WhatsApp or TikTok.
DO YOU HAVE A SCREEN AGREEMENT OR TECH CHARTER IN YOUR HOME?
Seeing as most technology that children consume is boundaryless, it is our responsibility as parents to put the parameters in place guiding them to a healthy online life. A screen agreement works well when a child is entering their teen years. A tech charter for your home works wonders if your child is still in primary school.
HAVE YOU HAD THE DIFFUCULT CONVERSATIONS?
When you give your child internet access, they are automatically more likely to view harmful content that may upset them. Social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok contain content with suicidal ideation, eating disorders, pornography and violence and it is easy to stumble upon such content.
By having open conversations about these topics you are creating a soft landing space in your home should your child ever feel upset or scared after spending time online.
HAS YOUR CHILD HAD ANY DIGITAL LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION?
By empowering a child with knowledge, we are ensuring they can make good decisions in cyberspace in the future. Knowing what a catfish is will help your child should he be approached by a stranger on Among Us. Learning how your actions today on TikTok can influence your future is vital. Teaching a child how to maintain media balance creates healthy screen time habits from the get-go.
Check out our comprehensive online courses for children, tweens and teens or get us into your child’s school with one of our super fun school workshops.
DO YOU CHECK DEVICES FROM TIME TO TIME?
Open your child’s device and discuss the photos, chats, and searches in an open conversation with good values leading the way.
May 2022 be the year in which scream time transforms back to screen time in your home!
