Our children are growing up in an age of technology. As we all know there are many benefits to it, but unfortunately some downfalls as well… If your child is into all the new technologies, chances are they will participate in online gaming. Be sure to read these tips to protect your kids – and feel free to share with us how make sure your kids are safe! Here are the top 10 tips according to Gametheoryonline.com:
At first glance, the Internet’s online virtual world seems like a vast, untamed frontier. That’s not a bad comparison. The ‘net is a wondrous and hugely useful tool for learning and entertainment, including playing games, but it can also be a pretty rough place for kids to dwell if they don’t stay within certain boundaries.
Simply forbidding your child to go online is not an option either: The Internet is an extremely important reservoir of knowledge, and is as culturally and materially relevant as televisions, phones and libraries in a modern sociological context. Rather than attempt to ban online usage, parents should instead establish safe browsing habits in their home and instill them in their children as soon as possible.
When we prepare our kids for the outside world, we tell them not to take presents from strangers, and to look both ways before crossing the street. In the online world, the same common sense rules apply. Here and 10 hints and tips for online gaming safety that can help you keep kids safe while enjoying their favorite free, downloads and massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, not to mention ensure a more enjoyable Internet multiplayer experience for all.
Never Share Personal Data and Information Online: This is one of the most important keys to helping kids stay safe on the Internet (and it’s a good bit of advice for adults, too). Parents should warn their children that personal information such as name, address, age, etc. should never be given out to strangers through email, chat clients, instant messages or any other means. Birthdays, locations and personal preferences can all be used to facilitate fraud or identity theft, while criminals, thieves and sexual predators can also take advantage of personal info to plan crimes, locate victims and fool unsuspecting innocents. Bear in mind: Even a seemingly innocent status update on Facebook, Twitter or a favorite MMO about your impending trip to Hawaii can act as a billboard to potential robbers, letting them know when you’ll be away and your house and valuables left unguarded.
Monitor Computer Time and Usage: By placing computers or consoles in public home areas such as the living room, and spending time together online playing games, parents can get a better idea of their kid’s browsing habits and hangouts. It’s much harder to hide unhealthy activity when you’re familiar with children’s preferences and preferred venues, and able to keep an active eye on their PC or video game system usage patterns.
Employ Kid-Friendly Internet Web Browser Add-ons: Add-ons (downloadable programs) for popular web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox, e.g. KidZui and Glubble, can quickly be installed to make Internet browsing safe and fun. These add-ons – which can filter questionable sites and videos, block inappropriate online content, and limit access to parent, teacher and educator approved resources – are easy to find, simple to use, and give parents peace of mind while their kids browse the Internet. As children mature and learn better online habits, switching back to regular browsing is as simple as inputting a password.
Set Time Limits: Especially for very young children, it’s a good idea to establish specific times when computer usage is allowed, preferably when parents can keep an eye on what’s being done. Generally, kids and young teens shouldn’t be on the computer when the rest of the family is asleep, especially on a school night, or using it for hours on end when they should be doing homework instead. Thankfully, most Mac and Windows PC operating systems allow you to set hours on which certain users are permitted to use the computer. If said user tries to gain access during a forbidden hour, he or she will be barred and logged out automatically. Setting specific time limits can also foster healthy dialogue amongst parents and kids, helping all encourage a healthier lifestyle and better balance of leisure activities.
Educate Yourself: There are a great deal of free online games, virtual worlds and multiplayer gaming amusements on the Internet, but not all of them are appropriate for kids. As ever, an ounce of prevention outweighs a pound of cure, as firsthand knowledge is a parent’s most powerful tool in the battle to enable Internet safety and promote healthy online gaming habits. So do yourself a favor: Get to know what your child is playing, and familiarize yourself with the game’s safety rules. Most online virtual words have a “For Parents” section that outlines moderation policies, and some online games even let parents hook up their own accounts to their kids’ accounts so that parents can moderate playtime. Learning more about your children’s favorite games won’t just better equip you to handle the challenges that come with online gaming. It also provides a ready excuse to spend time with your kids over a positive bonding activity that all can enjoy, and better understand their personal preferences, motivations and interests.
Talk About Safe Online Spending: Many digital diversions from MMOs to virtual worlds and free to play online games offer special items and exclusive levels for a small, optional fee on the back-end. (These bite-sized digital impulse buys, known as “microtransactions,” are primarily how most free online games fund their projects). Talk to your kids about online spending, and make sure they understand both how it works, and that they need your permission before making purchases.
Use Parental Controls: Most PCs, Internet browsers and video game systems offer easy-to-use Parental Controls software settings that can restrict a child’s usage of these devices and help keep them away from unsightly or questionable content. Check your PC’s control panel, or your web browser or video game console’s Settings and/or Preferences for more information on these features.
Supervise Online, Multiplayer and Real-World Interaction: The Internet is remarkable in that it lets us make friends from around the world, and connect and play with them in real-time. Occasionally, luckier players even get to hold a real-life meeting with the buddies they make online. These meetings are a thrill, but they should never happen without a third party at-hand to make sure everything turns out safe – and that advice extends to adults meeting online friends for the first time, too. Should you wish to avoid strangers entirely, many games also provide options to turn off voice and text chat, and limit online play to pre-approved friend lists. Suffice it to say that in many cases, levels of online multiplayer interaction, and resulting real-world contact, can be custom tailored to your personal level of comfort. Any instances of questionable, immoral or abusive online behavior can also be reported to online moderations and authorities, who provide in-game supervision.
Investigate Digital Gifts and Suspicious Activities: Online shopping lets us order cool stuff from around the world, including virtual goods that only exist on the computer and thousands of real-world treats that can be sent to friends using retailers like Amazon.com. But if your child suddenly starts receiving odd messages, communications at strange hours and/or email from strangers – let alone packages from unfamiliar addresses or gift boxes from online stores without first consulting you about a purchase – it’s best to look into the source. Caution is, as ever, the watchword.
Above All Else, Communicate with Kids: Be open and talk to your child about his or her online adventures. Discuss the websites he or she likes to visit, ask about the friends they make, and address any questions or concerns he or she may have. Don’t be afraid to discuss difficult issues such as cyberbullying, heated arguments and handling queries from total strangers as well. Avoid being judgmental: The goal is to foster open and constructive dialogue that leads to better understanding and communication on both sides of the table. After all, when it comes to the Internet’s vast and uncharted online world, for both parents and kids alike, you can never be too prepared.