Ways Parents Can Safeguard Their Household’s Online Safety

Published on: 13 August 2020 Last Updated on: 21 November 2024

The internet has reached nearly every part of the world. Studies show that one in every three kids in the United States, Europe, and other regions now uses the internet. Soon, the number of kids using the internet will continue to increase.

A recent study showed that kids in the West are begging to consider internet access as a basic right or necessity.

When used correctly, the internet is a good thing. It facilitates entertainment, offers learning opportunities, allows children to interact with their friends, and more. However, the internet is a double-edged sword.

On the flip side, it poses many threats to children, teens, and even adult users. Some of these threats include sexual harassment, sexting, invasion of the kids’ privacy, identity theft, and cyberbullying.

This is the main reason parents must monitor their children’s online activities. Your children trust you, and that’s your opportunity to talk to them about their online safety. Let them know that they can always turn to you whenever they sense danger online.

Generally, understanding what your kids and teens do online is essential when it comes to protecting them from internet-related threats. Here are three effective ways to ensure online safety for your kids and household.

1. Use An Encrypted Network At Home

Today’s home network includes a broad range of wireless devices such as phones, computers, smart TVs, IP Cameras, and other connected appliances.

Using a wireless connection requires an internet access point like a DSL modem or cable to a router (wireless). This sends a signal via air for as far as 100 feet. That means that the devices within range can access the internet via that signal.

Unless you take the right precautions, your neighbors and hackers nearby can access your network. They can ‘piggyback’ on that network and access data from your devices. In case an authorized person uses your household’s network to commit a crime, that activity will be traced to your account.

To address this issue, you must use encryption on your home’s wireless network. Encrypting the data you send over your home’s wireless network prevents nearby hackers from eavesdropping on your communications.

So, install a VPN router to ensure that all the traffic within your home’s network is encrypted. Also, a VPN router can successfully hide your IP address and encrypt other devices connected to it. This will block hackers from seeing your internet activity.

2. Keep All Your Devices’ OS Up-to-Date

Keeping your devices’ OS and other software up to date is an effective way of minimizing the risk of a security breach and malware infection. Most software updates include new features, security patches, and bug fixes.

Delaying or ignoring operating system updates exposes your home computers, phones, and other devices to internet security threats. Also, OS updates offer users new features and improved functionality.

Keep in mind that system updates are usually designed to protect users from various levels of cyberattacks. Ignoring them may prove critical to the overall functioning of your home devices. Sure, your children may not understand the importance of updating device systems. But you should always do it for them.

3. Install Parental Safety Software

Despite the AAP’s recommendation to choose and view online content with your kids, the advent of internet-connected devices has made it more challenging for parents to monitor and limit their kids’ online activities.

Today, children as young as nine years spend more than three hours daily accessing the internet, according to a recent study. These habits are likely to worsen, and this exposes your child to the dangers associated with various forms of internet content.

The chances are that you have already enacted robust protection features on your kids’ devices. However, you need to download and install parental control software.

This will help you monitor what your children are doing online. You will be able to know when your kid is being bullied or introduced to content that they shouldn’t be accessing.

There might be times when your teenagers might start getting into the rebellious part of their life. Everything you say to them might be taken in the opposite manner. This rebellious behavior has the potential of impairing their judgment and falling prey to online predators that can scar them physically and emotionally.

Using parental safety software can ensure that you are keeping track of who your child is talking and interacting with. If you want information, read more here.

Talk To Them About Online Safety

One of the best ways to protect your children online is by having an open and honest conversation about internet safety. Kids are curious, and while they might know how to navigate the digital world, they may not understand the dangers lurking around the corner.

That’s where you come in!

It’s important to talk to them and set clear expectations for their online behavior.

Explain The Risks

Start by explaining the risks, but don’t overwhelm them with too much information at once.

Break it down into things they can understand—like how some people online pretend to be someone they’re not or how sharing personal information can lead to trouble.

Ask them questions:

What do they already know about the dangers?

How do they feel when someone they don’t know tries to talk to them online?

This helps create a two-way conversation instead of a lecture.

Encourage Open Communication

Encourage your children to come to you whenever they encounter something that makes them uncomfortable. Let them know it’s okay to talk about anything, even if they’ve made a mistake online.

Building trust is crucial here. If they feel safe talking to you, they’ll be more likely to share when something goes wrong.

Set Clear Boundaries

Set boundaries for screen time and the types of websites or apps they can use. But instead of just telling them what not to do, explain why certain websites or interactions can be dangerous.

For younger kids, simple rules like “Don’t talk to strangers” or “Ask me before downloading anything” are easy to follow.

For older teens, focus more on the long-term consequences of risky behavior, like sharing inappropriate photos or chatting with strangers.

Lead By Example

Another great way to encourage safe internet habits is by leading by example. Show them how you protect your own privacy online.

Like using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, or turning off location services on apps. Kids are always watching and learning from what you do!

Create A Family Agreement

It’s also a good idea to create a family agreement for online use. This can be a simple list of rules everyone agrees to follow, from limiting screen time to being respectful in online interactions.

Make it a fun activity where everyone gets to contribute their ideas, so it doesn’t feel like just another set of rules imposed by the parents.

Today’s parents are raising a new generation of techie children. Teens text to communicate while toddlers are using tablets and iPads. It is the duty of the parents to ensure that their children are not exposed to internet threats.

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Seven ways to Support Family and Friends with Special Needs

When parents decide to start their journey of parenthood, they hope that they will get and bring up a perfectly healthy child. However, many are the times when genetic defects, birth complications, injuries, and other problems get in the way, and differently gifted children are born. Not many people take the time needed to understand people with disabilities, and even fewer people are willing to go out of their way to offer them support. If you have family or friends with special needs, here are a few ways in which you can make them feel your love and support. 1. Talk to them: Not many people know this but whether it is at work, school, at home and in other social setups, the productivity of people with disabilities and those close to them depends a lot on the attitude of the general community towards them. If the community around a disabled person has formed a negative attitude and barriers to their inclusion, they end up withdrawing and doubting their capabilities. On the other hand, when they are made to feel included and accepted they blossomed. Parents of children who have disabilities admit that they like it when a stranger walks up to them in a park and shows genuine interest to learn about their child’s condition. What people appreciate the most are people who take time to ask specific questions. For instance, ask how the child’s physical therapy is going as opposed to asking something general or offering that supportive smiles. At times you will find that people with disabilities need a listening ear, and they appreciate it when you take time and pay attention to details about their lives. 2. Be aware of personal space: People with disabilities often use mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other items. What most people do not understand is that most view these aides as part of their personal space. When interacting with disabled people, you always have to respect their personal space. If for instance, you want to assist them in pushing their wheelchair, do not just grab and start pushing at it, ask them if it is okay to help them move from one point to the other, you can push the chair when they agree. The same applies to when you feel they need you to support them in standing up, sitting down or other movements. You can start by saying something like, “Here, let me help you,” and then wait for their consent. If they feel that you are patronizing them or treating them like they are completely helpless, they will push back and reject your help. 3. Be thoughtful: There is nothing that whispers support to a disabled person more than knowing that you thought about them before you made the plans that you have made. It means that if for instance, you planned a meeting, you made sure that the room was accessible via wheelchair and there are ramps and other relevant accessibility and support features. It is also important to always inform them about all the plans which you have made for the meetings and other get-together arrangements so they can prepare well in advance. 4. Treat them normally: One of the most difficult corners to navigate when dealing with people who have disabilities is learning how to interact with them without making them feel abnormal. Most people think that being sensitive to these people is about hiding the achievement of their normal kids and clapping when the disabled kid does something that is simple and normal. When interacting with disabled people, do not minimize yourself or your child’s achievements. Learn that the disabled kid might not do things like regular kids, but they still get things done, eventually. Treat them like just any other kid, and they will respond positively to this. 5. Do not try too much: Another mistake people make when interacting with disabled people is the need to know what to say and what to do at all times. The truth is that disabled people are just like everyone else. It is okay to have a slip of the tongue when interacting with them. It is alright to listen to them when they are telling you about their complications and tell them that you honestly do not know what to say. If you have no idea how to help them when they are at their weakest, it is still okay to sit with them and listen. Your presence is reassuring enough for them. 6. Go an extra mile in the extreme seasons: Disabled people tend to struggle a lot more than everyone else in. They have to cope with inaccessible sidewalks, flare-ups which are triggered by the low temperatures, chronic pain and other issues that result from being stuck at home too long. These are the things you can do to ease their discomfort during this season: Take food to them-it is possible that they will not access grocery stores and farmers markets Visit them and spend the time to end the feeling of loneliness and depression. Send them a message and genuinely ask how they are faring Help them around the house and help them shovel and salt their driveways. 7. Support their dreams: There is nothing that says love to a disabled person than when you genuinely support their work. People with disability wake up in the morning because they believe they can rise against the odds and make a difference. The least that you can do to make their world a little easier to manage is to support their dreams and their work. When they tell you they are having a talent show, be present and cheer them on. Buy their art, shop from their outlets and all other small gestures which will make them feel appreciated. These are just a few of the things that you could do to help people with disabilities. In case you interact with them and realize they may need counseling from professionals, you can reach out to Regional & Rural Toowoomba Psychologists. They are well equipped to offer the support needed to make the lives of people with disabilities simple. Read Also: Practical Ways To Help Your Elderly Parents 7 Interesting Gifts For Your Best Friends Ways To Emotionally Deal With Chronic Illness Tips For Throwing A Family Reunion People Will Remember For Years 8 Family Friendly Careers That Offer Great Pay And Work-Life Balance

Ways To Prove Parental Alienation In Indiana

Whether you are looking to win your child custody case or are looking for ways to prove parental alienation in Indiana, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself. Keep a diary Keeping a diary to prove parental alienation in Indiana can be a daunting task, but it is well worth the effort. The first step is to document any and all interactions with the child, whether they are a face-to-face meeting, a text message, or an email. You may want to take screenshots of these, or even print out these messages. Another nifty thing to do is create a scrapbook or journal to record your child's activities and achievements. These can help you build a chronology of your child's emotional history. You can also use this evidence to counter allegations that you never did anything with your child. To get the most out of your diary, it might be best to keep it short and sweet. Using a journal to record your activities is a good way to demonstrate your attention to detail and dedication to your child. You can also document your interactions with other adults, such as a therapist or a coach. It's not uncommon for children to communicate with friends through the same electronic channels as their parents. This can be a very useful tool for proving that your ex is engaging in misconduct. The best method to document your activities is to create a chronological record of your child's life. You can do this by listing dates, times, and observations. You can also document any disparaging remarks that your ex makes to your child. This can be done by asking them to explain the remark. Another good way to demonstrate that you are actually engaged in positive behavior with your child is to keep track of your child's social media posts. These can provide valuable information that is not likely to be provided by the parents themselves. Take A Deposition Getting help to prove parental alienation in Indiana can be a complex process. You need an experienced attorney to guide you through the process. Your attorney can help you gather the evidence you need and get a restraining order or a court order for additional time with your child. Your lawyer can interview your child to see how alienation has impacted his or her life. They can also ask other family members about the situation. These witnesses can provide a detailed account of what they observed. Your attorney can use the transcript of the deposition to help you prove your case. If your child is in school, you can obtain the school records of your child to see how he or she has been affected by the alienation. If you have access to the other parent's emails, text messages, and social media accounts, you can document these interactions. Your child's journal can also be a source of information. He or she might share posts on Facebook or Twitter that support the accusations made by the other parent. If your child is expressing negative feelings toward the other parent, you can document these behaviors. An experienced attorney can advise you on how to handle electronic communications. They can also advise you on how to keep your information private. The key is to maintain a positive relationship with your child. This will give you the best chance of proving parental alienation. Your attorney will need to take an oath of completeness and honesty before the court. You need to prove your case by presenting records of your interactions with your ex. You will also need to show that the other parent has been harmful to your child. Ask your child questions Getting evidence of parental alienation in Indiana can be difficult. You might be able to get a judge to order the at-fault parent to stop alienating the child, but you have to gather evidence. One of the best ways to show that the other parent is trying to alienate the child is to document all of their interactions. You should make detailed notes of any disparaging remarks and comments the other parent makes to the child. This can be done in a daily journal or an email. In addition to records, you may be able to get documentation from the other parent to prove that they are trying to undermine your relationship with your child. You may also be able to get recordings of the other parent's words or photos that show a change in your child's behavior. Another way to find evidence of parental alienation in Indiana is to ask your child questions about what they are experiencing. For instance, they might tell you that they are feeling a lot of anxiety about the other parent. You can then take that information to a therapist or court. You can also use social media to gather evidence of your alienating ex's misconduct. You can check your child's posts to see what he or she is posting about the other parent. If the other parent has posted anything innocuous, this could prove that they are alienating your child. Having an attorney on your side can help you prove your case in a family court. The attorney will be able to advise you on the privacy issues involved in electronic communications. Your attorney can also provide you with specific steps to gather evidence for your parental alienation case. Having an experienced attorney on your side can increase the chances of winning your case. Avoid disparaging the other parent Having children with a parent who is alienated is a serious issue. Not only can it affect the child, but it can also have a negative effect on the parent's relationship. If you suspect that your ex is trying to alienate your child, it is important to take action. The first thing you should do is document any disparaging remarks the other parent makes. The next step is to consult a qualified attorney. Your attorney will be able to help you gather the evidence you need to prove parental alienation. You will need to keep detailed records of all interactions you have with the other parent. This can include a daily diary and emails. You should also take note of any interactions with neutral adults. This can include your child's coach and teacher. These third parties can be witnesses that can help you make your case. Using social media to monitor the activities of your child is also a great way to find out if your ex is alienating your child. Your child may share posts and comments from your ex on their social media accounts. You can then document these interactions by requesting to see your child in person, via text, or by email. You can also get help from a psychological expert to determine whether your child is suffering from parental alienation. A psychologist is trained to identify behavioral patterns that can lead to alienation. This can be crucial to proving your case. The best way to avoid alienating your child is to avoid making them feel responsible for problems. You should also avoid getting angry. Getting angry can only worsen the situation. If you are unsure of how to go about proving parental alienation in Indiana, a lawyer can help you build a strong case. Having an experienced attorney on your side can greatly increase your chances of success. Contact A Lawyer Taking legal action to stop parental alienation in Indiana can be a difficult process. You will need a lawyer to help you gather evidence and show the court why you should have custody of the child. It can take several months or even a year to gain custody. Keeping detailed records of your interactions with the other parent can prove that he or she has been alienating the child. This can include making disparaging remarks to the child, badmouthing the other parent, and controlling the child's communication. It can also be important to contact a therapist to help you identify and address the issues related to parental alienation. Your therapist will work with you to help you determine whether or not your ex is alienating the child. This can be particularly important if the other parent is acting out of malice or is simply uninterested in the child. It is often helpful to make a list of witnesses who can testify about your ex's conduct. You can also use journal entries to document your attempts to communicate with the child. This can also be useful to present to the court. You may be able to collect proof of parental alienation through the other parent's social media posts. Children often interact with their friends through the same electronic means they communicate with the other parent. Your attorney will be able to advise you on how to protect the privacy of your electronic communications. He or she will also be able to help you obtain a restraining order to prevent your ex from interfering with your visits with your child. Taking legal action against parental alienation can be difficult, but it can be a great way to protect your relationship with your child. A skilled attorney will be able to guide you through the process and help you build a strong case. Read Also: How To Get Child Visitation Rights? Things To Consider Before Hiring A Divorce Lawyer How Many Children Go Missing in the US Every Year?

5 Reasons Why Girls Should propose to boys

Winds swirling, birds humming and butterflies dancing- this is the feeling when two people are in love and cannot wait to make the promise of spending the whole lives with each other. Everyone dreams of finding their perfect partner, their soulmate and their better half. When they do find The One, nobody wants to let go. They just know that they can spend eternity together; laughing, sharing, fighting and loving. A marriage is a symbol of that love. It is a legal bond, uniting the emotional and a spiritual connection between two lovers. People love to listen to the tales of how did the guy proposed for the marriage. There are tears of joys and lots of ‘awwws’. People drool over and dream of the perfect boy who made this perfect proposal. But there are lots of speculations and judgments when it is another way around. It is unusual for a girl to propose the guy. But when she does, she is judged to be desperate and a bit too much. A girl can break all the norms of the society by proposing to the boy. But why is it such a big deal? Marriage involves the love, trust, and involvement of both the boy and the girl, so why is the burden to propose only on the shoulders of a boy? The world is changing, and so people should evolve as well. In the era where women are most forward in the global domination, it is okay and a normal for a girl to take the initiative. In fact, it must be encouraged. If that is not all, the following are some reasons why girls really should propose to the guy: 1. To break the norms: Why go along with society when you believe otherwise? There are many women out there who believe in taking initiative in everything, but they hesitate and stop when they think about what the society would say. An Initiative of one woman inspires many women around her to take the step as well. There might be lots of gossiping when a girl bends on one knee to propose, but they all applaud her eventually when they see that the couple is happy. The image and talks of the girl being too desperate to marry will soon fade with time and this trend will take over and transform the thinking pattern of the society. 2. They know what they want: This fact cannot be ignored that most of the times it is the women who have a very clear direction of what they want. Let us not assume by this statement that men are confused. But yes, they do need a guiding hand to get them through the parts where they need to take strong decisions. They do love their girlfriends very much and want to spend their life with them, but they just need a push to take this life-changing decision. Also, there are some men who are too shy and introvert to make the big move. As an understanding girlfriend and future wife, a girl should respect his nervousness and take the step to the future herself. 3. To share the emotional burden: Marriage proposals create a lot of burden for the men. Some men are not able to handle this type of burden and expectations, and instead, spoil things in confusion rather than making it special. As life partners, it is the responsibility of both of them to share everything and to be each other’s better halves. When it comes to feelings and emotions, sometimes men are even more sensitive than girls. They can be dreamy and also have expectations. For girls, this is the best opportunity to express their feelings and let their men get head over heels in love with them and say yes to the best and boldest proposal ever. 4. To pamper men: It is very normal for a guy to pamper his girl with lots of gifts and surprises. But it is very rare that girls make the boys feel special. It is a pure myth that boys are tough and strong hearted and little things like surprises and gifts do not affect them. Because they do. Their muscles and built has nothing to do with their emotions. So girls, make a point to spoil your guy once a while. And what is a better way to make him feel special than to plan a surprise-filled day, full of romance and propose him for marriage? Pick out his best flowers, his favorite music at a location which is special to him, and ask him to marry by showing him the ring. And oh that ring! It needs to be very special and should be chosen with pure love and affection for your love. You can click here to select the best mens diamond rings for your future fiancé make him happy and excited. 5. To break the myth of masculinity: Other than people judging the girl about her decision to propose the guy, there are people who actually doubt the masculinity of the man. They mock him and call him a coward. This is when the ego hits the guy and begins to question his relationship. This can spoil the most special time of courtship with his fiancé. The guy should, in fact, be supportive and appreciate his girlfriend’s efforts to make him feel special. He should show off to the world about how unique their proposal is, how special their love story is and how strong her fiancé is. By all means, there is just precaution that you should take. Make sure that your boyfriend is ready for marriage and will not be scared away after your proposal. This can ruin your whole relationship. Women proposing men shows how strong women have become and boosted the idea of women empowerment. This inspires women around you and makes them believe that they can do anything. No society norms and judgments can stop them from taking any type of decisions and they are the queen of their own life. Read Also: Taking A Break From Your Relationship 4 Warning Signs Your Marriage Is In A Serious Trouble

Ways Parents Can Safeguard Their Household’s Online Safety

1. Use An Encrypted Network At Home

2. Keep All Your Devices’ OS Up-to-Date

3. Install Parental Safety Software