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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We have time limits, no screen time after tea and they are only allowed on tablets at weekends.

Parental controls and passwords. Always ensure we are in the same room when the children use their tablets too.

Pin code's on devices so I can manage what is being watched and when. On tablet devices, parental controls are enabled too.

We have parental controls and supervised screen time

My kids are fairly young so they don’t have their own tablets etc. They use it next to me or my husband so we keep an eye on them.

My children are adult now and could teach me a thing or two.

My daughter is 2 and 4 mths and can already turn on the tv and navigate to the sky home screen and then the recordings and then directly to the shows we have series linked for her. I don't have any safeguards in place right now but I am not uptight about screen time. I think there's a lot of great stuff on tv and online for kids. It can be a great educational tool. We love CBeebies 'something special', hey duggee, Sarah and duck, bing, then on Netflix :max and ruby, the wiggles, loads more and online we get Sesame street and Mr Rogers neighbourhood. Her language skills have exploded and she forms complicated thoughts and sentences- I put it down to exposure to all types of programmes. I see my sister dealing with screentime for her 3 kids. They get their tablets most evenings and they're used as reward and punishment and they're always fighting about it. I don't want it to be like that. As soon as she's interested in being online we will adapt but for now I love our shared bond and enthusiasm for quality programming.

We want to allow exploration of devices so we are big on parental controls so that our LO has some independence. All devices around the house of password protected and the tablet the LO uses has only chosen apps. As a computing lead at school, I know how important learning to use devices is and also how these can enhance learning in different curriculum areas so our devices available to the LO are indicative of this. LO had used the kids youtube which constantly needs monitoring but we have recently added sky kids which we feel is safer. She is an outdoors girl so we don't limit her screen time as she would prefer to be outside or role playing the majority of the time. She enjoys taking photos with her tablet. Her account is linked to ours so we can keep a check on what she's doing. My husband and I are tech geeks so we are about gadgets and electronics but are very safety conscious.

We have controls on the app store and netflix

We have no phones or devices in bedrooms (not popular with the 13yo when some of his friends are messaging in group chats at midnight), limited screen time, especially during the week, and their devices are linked to our Apple ID so they can't download or buy anything without us knowing. There are also parental controls on our internet so adult content / gambling etc can't be accessed.
Ds1 does have the PS4 in his room now, more because it was driving us crazy downstairs than any other reason, but he knows if he doesn't stick to the rules it will come straight back down so actually we haven't had any problems with him sneaking on at night or anything.
We've talked lots about the risks and dangers and helped when needs be, but I believe they need educating to make good decisions and choices rather than just having everything on total lockdown.

We try to supervise and discuss limits for tablet usage

Literally keeping an eye on what they’re looking at, explaining to them why and where they must be careful and keeping a limit on screentime.

My daughter is 9 and she only uses the internet to play a game called roblox. I made sure the settings on the game meant no one could private message her or see her details. I also made sure her profile showed her correct age so the company knew she was young and it only lets her into certain games within roblox. I also check what she watches on you tube by checking the history. She only gets a maximum of 40 minutes after school and we have no screen time on Sundays.

Honesty..... I share the news articles about some of the awful things that happen online and they suddenly become very aware of the dangers

Only watches TV in our sitting room, all18+ channels ahev been blocked and supervised screen time. PLus our school did a see it, block it and flag it and sent the info home to us, whisg I found interesting

i dont let the kids download anything without my consent

The boys both have mobiles and access to laptops. We make sure that all technology is put out of reach at bedtime, and its always taken away if they are naughty.
We don't monitor them all the time, we check history's occasionally and also ask them what they are looking at when they are using the items but we've only had a few problems which have been discussed so that they know it is wrong and if they do it again then it will be taken away from them and they will be punished

our dd is not allowed unsupervised screen time- she can watch videos on the ipad, but only whilst with one of us.

Supervised and limited screen time with parental controls, you never know what they might click on or watch!

We have a tablet the children use with child browsing setting set, but I still feel it's important to supervise them when using.

mine aren't old enough but I'll get some apps to monitor in the future.

Using kid friendly apps, including the Sky Kids App, and having an open relationship with my children so they know they can always talk to me.

my lil boy only has access to the ipad with supervision. He normally watches the kids only profile on Netflix so its only child friendly programmes and films he can access

My DC have child-friendly tablets with limited web browsers and parental controls so they only get an hour a day. It doesn’t make me popular but I’ll survive.