Monitoring Your Kids’ Activities
ABC News has this piece on how to monitor your children’s activities given the fact that long vacations are just around the corner and children are going to be free from the classroom. Parents will have to be on their toes because children at home not only mean more work but also a change in routines. With greater access to computers and the internet, mobiles with internet, the all encompassing social web sties, and the cyber criminals which are lurking around, it is all the more important to monitor your kids’ activities. Although this piece is geared toward the American audience, the same principal would apply if you are a parent in the UK or elesewhere.
Ideally you should set your internet explorer’s (or any other browser you use) security option so that dangerous web site content sites are blocked. Alternatively you can install versions of software which let you know which sites they are using. These can be keystroke logging software which is available as downloads from the net or even free stuff like McGruff SafeGuard, from the National Crime Prevention Council.
You should also limit the time they spend online, but it may not possible and kids are known to go beyond parental control. External controls like the Power Cop locks the power cord from devices such as TV sets, video game consoles, computers and the Time-Scout Monitor can help limit the time.
There are other spy gadgets like a location tracker available to track them and keep an eye on them and you can limit their mobile usage as well. If your kids are on the beach or in camp, then they need to be in touch with you and vice versa, so you should get a mobile plan which is not too expensive and also consider getting tracking software if necessary.
Most importantly, what the article suggests is the importance of spending family time together and keep all lines of communication open, at the same time imposing some limits and boundaries, in other words, be subtle and not a control-freak.
I Think this is a good idea… using spy gadgets we can examine our kids… but they loss privacy…
roshid