More top tips to help your children stay safe online

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Posted by Mike Galvin

Research and technology writer

May 16th 2012 at 10:28

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Safety and security

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Schoolchildren using laptop computer.

The internet is an amazing resource for your children – helping them interact, learn and have fun from the safety of your home – alongside the Internet Green X Code, there are a few more steps you can take to help your children stay safe online.

How long should children be online each day? There’s no official advice on this but various experts have suggested that two hours a day of TV or computer use should be the maximum, especially for children under 11 years old. Not using the computer in the hour before sleeping is also recommended by many sleep experts. You can find out more at www.kidsmart.org.uk.

BT Family Protection

BT Family Protection is quick, easy and free for BT Broadband customers to set up. It also lets you choose the right level of protection for each child on up to three computers in your home.

Here’s what you can do with BT Family Protection:

  • Block inappropriate websites
  • Set limits for time online
  • Control social networking
  • Filter YouTube content
  • Review online usage reports and set up alerts

Find out more about BT Family Protection >

More tips to keep your kids safe online

Keep internet enabled devices in sight

One simple way to keep track of what children are doing online is to put your computer in a public part of your home, like the kitchen or living room. You’ll be used to keeping tabs on your children from the corner of your eye – and there’s no reason this can’t work when they’re online. Don’t forget that the internet can also be accessed through mobiles and devices like Apple’s iTouch, so be aware of the different web devices your children use.

Keep an eye on the clock

If you’re worried your children are spending too much time online, you can try limiting how much time they’re allowed to spend on the internet, or give them set times in the week when they can go online.

Set ground rules

Be clear with your children about what you expect them to do and not do online, so they know from the outset what the rules are. You can also ask them to show you the kinds of things they spend their time doing online.

Configure parental software

If you’ve already installed parental control software on all your computers at home, then make sure it’s configured correctly. As children mature, their needs will change so it’s well worth reviewing the settings at regular intervals. Parental control software can help you set safe boundaries for your children.

Keep up-to-date

Don’t forget to review the rest of our internet safety posts, which contain advice for all computer users in your family.

Would you like to know more?

Why not spend some time with your child browsing the guidance that has been produced by The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre with different age groups in mind:

And don’t forget to tell us how you get on in the comments box below.

BT Family Protection

Stay safe on the internet with BT Family Protection – free with BT Broadband

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