Create Healthy Habits Online

There is nothing more precious to us than our children.

Which is why we, as parents, spend so much time protecting them from harm.

Want to cross the street? Look both ways!

Want to go swimming? Take swimming lessons!

Want to play games online? Then we need to set some boundaries.

Parents have the unique opportunity to shape their kids’ online habits at a young age. Healthy habits now will lead to healthy habits when they are older!

But this all begins in the home. While it’s impossible for even the most tech-savvy of us to keep up with the ever-changing Internet trends, it is even more difficult for parents to keep on top of things.

However, if your children are surfing the web, then you need to know what they might run into if left unattended.

Some simple tips to set healthy habits in the home are:

Monitoring Screen Times: While it is more than reasonable to let our kids play on Minecraft, it is not reasonable to spend 8 hours on Minecraft. Set up a schedule with your children to manage screen time. 

Keep the Computer or Tablet Within Eyesight: Computers should always be in a shared space, like the living room, and it should never be positioned with the screen facing a wall. The best way to teach healthy habits is to make sure there is no hiding happening. Make sure you can see what your kids see! Likewise, tablets should only be used in open areas in the house. 

Don’t Feel Bad Checking the History:  Even the most diligent parent cannot be everywhere at all times. Make sure you check the browser history often. Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom, so make sure you have a firm knowledge of what is being accessed online in order to make wise decisions for your children. 

Make a Bookmark List For Your Kids: If kids are only allowed to use a certain number of websites, make a bookmark list for them for easy access! This will cut down on browsing, and it will cut down on accidents happening. 

Finally, Always, Always, Always Keep Communications Open: The single most effective tool in keeping kids safe is talking with them. They need to be able to talk with their parents about what they see, what they’ve heard, and anything they are concerned about. Lines of communication are the key to healthy habits, throughout life! 

Helping your kids learn healthy habits online begins at home! Use time online to teach them how to be safe, happy and healthy!