The internet is filled with things that nobody wants their kids to see. Even social media can be dangerous if precautions aren’t taken. There are a lot of good things about parenting in the digital age: you can more easily keep your kids entertained and distracted, and there are tons of educational apps and software. Older kids can watch educational videos on YouTube or conduct research. However, you should still take advantage of tools for online monitoring for parents to help keep your kids safe.
Some parents also want to use monitoring tools to teach their kids screen time management. There is a downside to spending too much time staring at a screen. Not only does it cause eye strain, it also can lead to behavioral issues. There is always the possibility of the child running across something or someone dangerous.
Keep in mind that there is a difference between spying and monitoring. Many parents don’t feel comfortable with the idea of “snooping” on their children. Fortunately, there are parental control tools that allow you to monitor your child’s activities without being too intrusive and invading their privacy. You can simply set up a profile for each child and selecting which types of websites and content to block that child from seeing, and receive a summary at the end of the day of some of the content your child accessed. Some programs also allow you to set time limits for each child to spend online. You can specify the hours yourself.
Online Monitoring for Parents In the Average Household
Since the average household has tons of computers and internet-enabled devices of every kind, it’s important that you choose software that allows online monitoring for parents on all devices and across every browser / OS. This way, no matter which phone, tablet, or computer your child has used, you can still view a report and monitoring some of their activities.
If you need “real time” tracking tools, look for software that will send you an ALERT right away if your child steps out of the safe zones you specify. This is perhaps the most important feature for many parents since it literally helps keep their children physically safe. If something happens and they leave the designated safety areas, you’ll know right away.
Since there are so many tools and programs that offer online monitoring for parents, how do you know which one is the right one for you? How do you know which one offers the ideal features you are looking for? First thing you need to do is check if your current internet security program has any parental control features. If not, then consider a standalone option, like Kaspersky Safe Kids, which is available as a free version and paid version.