Mumsnet users share how you safeguard your children around digital technology in the home with Sky Kids

[EllieMumsnet]

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In this digital age devices such as: laptops, mobiles, tablets, game consoles and TV's all come second nature to many of our children as they are used frequently from a young age in the home. Although they can help children learn and play in so many amazing ways, it’s also important to keep them safe and ensure what they are viewing/playing is appropriate. With that in mind Sky Kids would love to know all the ways you try to keep your children safe when it comes to technology in the home and how you still allow a healthy/fun relationship with technology in your family.

Here’s what Sky Kids has to say: “At Sky, we care about helping to keep kids safe in the home. That’s why alongside parental controls on the Sky Kids App, we’ve also launched brand new Kids Safe Mode, where you can keep your Sky Q box locked in the Kids section, so when your kids are in charge of the remote they can only see and explore programmes that are appropriate for them. Wandering fingers won’t be able to adjust settings, delete non-Kids recordings or watch programmes made for grown-ups.”

Do you have timers on all the family’s devices to ensure that the children aren’t able to use them past a certain time? What about parental controls on your television? Or do you have kids safety modes on all the devices they use? Do you worry about what they’re able to access from their devices? Perhaps you encourage an open relationship with your children where you can all ensure everyone is watching age appropriate content/shows? Or maybe you use children specific apps on their phones, smart TVs or tablets so that you are sure they can only access things suitable for them?

Whatever the ways you keep your children safe when it comes to multimedia, share them on the thread below and everyone will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.
MNHQ

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Easy-'they don't have access to the internet. That's how to keep them safe from online crap.

I generally don’t give the kids iPads to play games on, just watch a film in the car on long journeys. You tube is banned in our house as it’s too easy to click on the wrong thing. They are also a bit young for consoles. They are 7 and under so they haven’t got their own devices yet, they just use ours.

I use the Sky Shield and have custom block on pornography, self harm and suicide, phishing and malware content.
Also every evening I block online gaming and social media with the shield at 9pm.
DS1 slopes downstairs and asks me to turn it back on but it's a no from me.
Because they have very little or no data on ththeir phones, they all use the wifi to access stuff so with the shield I know they can't access anything unsuitable.

Tv in the lounge, controls on gadgets and tv. Find it hard to navigate everything though and always feel I am on the back foot.

Supervised screen time an only an hour at a time

I have set up my home hub to with maximum filters, and each device has time limits, DS1 and DS2 have no internet access after 8 - so if they try to take their tablets to their bedroom in the evening - they cannot contact or be contacted by anyone. My tablet is password protected and my phone is fingerprint activated so they cannot use my devices. My smart television has passwords on channels, any my Sky Q has a pin, as do the apps on my TV screen. Thanks

Internet safety and password protection put on so children cant access anything they're not meant to.
Parental controls up to max, on everything.

All TV and ipad usage for my 2 year old is supervised. We have parental control locks on tablet so they are unable to download apps without the code and TV we have passcode.

parental lock to pegi 7 for our 11 yo DS

Using parental controls, monitor youtube usage,

Help ... I’m going through a lengthy court process .. basically my children of 10 and 12 don’t want to go to their fathers anymore due to him being in a new relationship with someone who has made threats towards me ... and I’ve been thought core assets .. the have a guardian and their own solictor now which has all been instructed by court ... physiological assessments hve also been done ... I’ve been numerously threatened by cafcass that the court remove the children due to me not encouraging them to go anymore .... could they take my children off me I’m so worried ... I can’t force them to go xxx please could someone advise me or has been through similar experiences xx I don’t

Controlled apps, supervision, adult pin codes, educating and talking about potential issues!

We have Sky fibre and a Sky Q box - it allows us a point of entry filter which has a set age limit controlled by us. This parental control along with some device based ones screens out the majority of content we don't want our kids to see. The good thing about the Sky parental control is that it can be timed so that after 9pm until 4am we can use our devices for any content whilst the kids are asleep. I have also always encouraged my children to 'have the conversation ' so that if they see or hear anything on line that worries them or scares them - or in fact they just think it's really funny or rude they show one of us adults so that we can guide them appropriately - or laugh along with them whilst we watch a porcupine munch a pumpkin!

Computers and tablets can only be used at certain times and for a certain amount of time supervised.

Supervision, Parental Controls set and time limits. Make sure any accounts and passwords are set up by parents only.

My girl has a limited time to use her mobile (max 1 hour a day). I can access her mobile to check the contents whenever I feel I have to. Southampton far I haven’t though.

Monitor what they’re viewing & time limits

by using parental security and supervision. I know as they get older this will become more difficult but I think talking to them and being honest is the key.

I admit our children used the computer on-line before a lot of the current problems became apparent, but we trusted them and monitored what they were doing. In return, they were open, and we could veto anything they tried to do which we didn't like. However, we never had any problems. Today, a closer watch and hopefully mutual respect and honesty would be needed.

I use parental control on any devices that they have access to. I also limit their screen time and they can only use their devices when we are with them.

Use Parental controls, time restrictions and generally supervise what apps and sites they are using.

I always supervise any time on devices, as well as having security features on everything too. So far it's been working well for us.

Supervised access also parental controls enabled on all devices used.

You tube for kids
Supervised screen time
Parental controls etc 😊

At 5, DS is already a dab-hand at navigating You Tube. At the moment its easy to supervise him as we only have one screen in the living room. I do worry how I will supervise him when he is older with more access.