Guide for Parents & Guardians

    Keeping Your Children Safe Online

    You don't need to be a technology expert to protect your family. This guide gives you practical tools, conversation starters, and warning signs to watch for.

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    The goal is not to spy on your children, but to guide them toward safe online habits they'll carry for life.

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    Setting Up Parental Controls

    Step-by-step guides to protect your children on their devices

    Phone & Tablet Controls

    Set up built-in parental controls on Android and iPhone devices

    • Android: Go to Settings → Digital Wellbeing → Parental Controls
    • iPhone: Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions
    • Set app download restrictions to require your approval
    • Enable SafeSearch in Google and YouTube apps
    Home WiFi Safety

    Protect all devices connected to your home network

    • Change your router's default password to something strong
    • Enable content filtering in your router settings if available
    • Set up a guest network for visitors to keep your main network secure
    • Consider family-friendly DNS services like CleanBrowsing or OpenDNS
    Social Media Settings

    Help your children use social media safely

    • Set all accounts to private, not public
    • Disable location sharing on all posts
    • Turn off 'suggested friends' and 'people you may know' features
    • Review friend lists regularly and remove unknown contacts
    Screen Time Limits

    Balance technology use with healthy habits

    • Set daily time limits for apps and games
    • Schedule 'downtime' during homework and sleep hours
    • Create phone-free zones like the dinner table and bedrooms
    • Model healthy screen habits yourself

    How to Talk to Your Children About Online Safety

    Age-appropriate conversation starters to open dialogue about internet safety

    Ages 5-8
    • "What games do you like to play on the tablet?"
    • "Has anyone you don't know ever tried to talk to you online?"
    • "What would you do if you saw something scary on the screen?"
    • "Let's look at the apps on your tablet together."
    Ages 9-12
    • "What apps are your friends using? Can you show me how they work?"
    • "Have you ever felt uncomfortable about something online?"
    • "Do you know what to do if a stranger tries to contact you?"
    • "What information is okay to share online, and what should stay private?"
    Ages 13-17
    • "What are your thoughts on how much time you spend on your phone?"
    • "Have you or your friends experienced cyberbullying?"
    • "What do you know about online privacy and your digital footprint?"
    • "How do you decide who to trust online?"

    Tips for These Conversations

    • • Listen more than you lecture
    • • Stay calm, even if you hear something concerning
    • • Ask open-ended questions, not yes/no questions
    • • Make it a regular conversation, not a one-time talk

    Warning Signs to Watch For

    These behaviors may indicate your child is in an unsafe online situation

    • Quickly switching screens or hiding devices when you approach
    • Becoming withdrawn, anxious, or upset after being online
    • Receiving gifts, money, or packages from unknown sources
    • Using devices late at night or being secretive about online activities
    • New contacts in their phone that they can't explain
    • Sudden changes in behavior or mood after internet use
    • Reluctance to discuss what they do online
    • Using multiple accounts or fake names

    If You Notice These Signs

    Stay calm and approach with curiosity, not accusation. Create a safe space for your child to talk. If you suspect exploitation or grooming, contact local authorities or the CyberTipline (CyberTipline.org).

    Having "The Conversation" with Aging Parents

    Talking to elderly parents about scam vulnerability is uncomfortable but necessary. These scripts help you approach the conversation with love and respect.

    Starting the conversation

    What to say:

    "Mom/Dad, I've been reading about some scams targeting people and I want to make sure we're both protected. Can we talk about it?"

    Tips:

    • Choose a calm, private moment, not during a family gathering
    • Frame it as 'us protecting each other' not 'me protecting you'
    • Share a news story about scams to make it less personal
    If they've already been scammed

    What to say:

    "I know this is hard to talk about. What happened wasn't your fault. These scammers are professionals who trick thousands of people. Let's focus on what we can do now."

    Tips:

    • Never say 'I told you so' or express frustration
    • Validate their feelings. They may feel ashamed or embarrassed
    • Focus on solutions and prevention, not blame
    If they're resistant to help

    What to say:

    "I understand you've been managing your own affairs for decades. I'm not trying to take control. I just want to be someone you can call before making big decisions."

    Tips:

    • Acknowledge their independence and life experience
    • Offer to be a 'second opinion' rather than a gatekeeper
    • Share that even experts get fooled by modern scams
    Setting up a safety system

    What to say:

    "What if we create a simple rule: before sending money to anyone new or clicking unfamiliar links, you call me first? I'll do the same with you."

    Tips:

    • Make it reciprocal. You both check with each other
    • Create a family code word only you both know
    • Offer to help set up their phone's security settings together

    Remember: This Is About Love, Not Control

    Your parent has managed their own life for decades. The goal isn't to take over their independence. It's to be a trusted partner they can consult. Many scams succeed because victims are too embarrassed to ask for help. Make it easy and safe for them to call you before making decisions.

    Watch & Learn

    Helpful videos for parents on keeping children safe online

    Digital Parenting Basics

    Essential tips for keeping your kids safe in the digital age

    Having The Conversation

    How to talk to your children about internet safety

    Create a Family Safety Agreement

    A simple agreement that everyone in the family can follow

    Our Family Internet Agreement
    • We will keep devices in common areas, not bedrooms
    • We will ask permission before downloading new apps
    • We will never share passwords, addresses, or school names online
    • We will tell a parent if someone online makes us uncomfortable
    • We will not meet anyone in person that we only know from online
    • We will be kind to others online, just like in real life
    • We agree on screen time limits and will respect them
    • Parents will respect privacy while keeping everyone safe

    Print this agreement and have everyone in the family sign it. Review it together every few months.

    More Family Safety Resources

    Age-specific guides for different family members

    Youth Safety Guide

    Safety tips written for children and teens

    Senior Safety Guide

    Protecting seniors from scams and fraud

    Test Your Family's Cyber Safety Knowledge

    Take our quick assessment to see how prepared your family is

    Take the Quiz

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