Today’s tech devices provide a wide array of learning opportunities for children. As a nanny, they are helpful tools to keep the kids entertained and engaged with fun, learning-based content. However, your smartphone or tablet does come with some drawbacks and dangers that can affect kids. These devices can access content that is inappropriate, be a carrier for cyber-bully activities and also can negatively engulf a child’s time and attention. Luckily, there are measures you can take that will ensure these devices won’t do more harm than good. Here are some tips that will help you set up systems and methods to ensure your kid’s technology is controlled and monitored:
Filter Inappropriate Content
It’s important that the child under your care isn’t exposed to inappropriate content that would upset their parents. Password protect the phone or tablet that they use, so they are only granted access when you are present. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a fingerprint lock, which means that only you can unlock the phone and there isn’t the risk of your numerical or alphabetic password being found out. You can also set up a variety of profiles for electronic use, so certain apps or capabilities are restricted within the child’s profile. Many phone and tablet models have this kid-mode option that will only allow them to interact with adult-approved content. The Tech Advisor website has a how-to description that explains what steps you should take to enable kid-mode on your tech devices.
Monitor Cyberbullying
Bullying has moved from the hallways of the school to the internet apps of your kid’s tech device. Cyberbullying is more difficult to detect, but can cause serious harm. If you child is a victim of cyberbullying, they may experience harassment over social media or through text, which could severely damage their mental well-being. Also, if the child you work with is the perpetrator of cyberbullying, it’s important you are aware so you can work with them on why they may be acting out in this way. Check in with the parents you work for and talk about various apps that can be utilized to recognize when cyberbullying is present on your child’s phone. Net Nanny Social is a program that does social media filtering. It is setup to detect harmful or inappropriate words and phrases, which will then send notification to the parent or monitor of the app. It also gives parents or nannies access to view photos and videos that are published by their child onto their profile. The program is web-based and has an easy-to-use dashboard that can monitor the social networks your kid uses from any device or internet source.
Prevent Excessive Use
When the child you watch uses technology too often, their socialization with those around them and exploration of the tangible world will likely lessen. It is important that they don’t overload their time with tech-use, as it may limit well-rounded development. Sit down with your child and talk about why it is important they only use their tech for a certain number of hours per day. Create a schedule that permits tech use and also restricts it. If you both create and agree upon this schedule, the child will be less likely to challenge you when the tech restriction time period occurs. You can also install a parental control and screen time management app, called OurPact. This app helps you schedule, grant or block internet access or apps when it is time for the child to do their homework or if they’ve already had an excess amount of screen use. You can create custom, recurring schedules for any activity or time frame, so that screen-free time becomes regular and immediately put into action.