More and more these days, it seems like there’s an ever-growing list of things that parents need to keep track of, especially when it comes to their children’s safety. Cyber stalkers, neighborhood sex offenders, and inattentive drivers are just a few of these. But that doesn’t mean that you have to keep your child chained to your side to ensure their safety.
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tools out there to help you keep your kids safer, even when you’re not there. Here are just a few of your options:
Parental Control Apps
Staying safe online is extremely important. You can’t always peek over your child’s shoulder to make sure they’re doing the right things. They probably wouldn’t appreciate that kind of supervision anyway. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be in control. Most electronic devices like computers, cell phones, and tablets have optional parental controls. These controls allow you to manage how long your kids can be online, what types of content are permitted, and even approve certain online purchases.
Most cell phones have parental controls standard in the phone’s settings, making them easy to activate and personalize. In addition to online usage, you have the ability to track the phone’s location, so you know where your child is even when they’re out and about.
If the parental controls you currently have on a device don’t feel sufficient, there’s always the option of purchasing third-party parental control apps. Most of these apps are reasonably priced, and offer even greater customization of controls. You can even find apps based on your specific needs.
Online Public Records Searches
When it comes to kids spending time with adults you don’t know—or even the ones you do—it can’t hurt to make sure you have all the facts. Whether they’re the parents of your child’s friend that you’ve known for years, or a neighbor who just moved in, a quick online check can help you verify if they’re hiding anything. One of the fastest and easiest ways to do that is with a specialized online public records search.
To start the search, just enter the full first and last name—and city and state, if you can—of the adult you want to check. Once you’ve found the right individual, you can delve deeper into their background. With this search, you can see if a person has any criminal records (ranging from just a traffic ticket up to arrests and jail records), if they’re a convicted sex offender, and other kinds of info.
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Video Games
Yes, that’s right: video games. Not all kinds of video games are helpful here, of course. But many kids’ organizations are using the taking their cues from video games. They’re using the same kinds of engaging plots and graphics, and the invigorating action of popular video games and cartoons to grab kids’ attention and teach them about safety. Using an approach like this actually makes learning about safety fun and engaging. And a little sneaky.
These interactive pieces of media cover the gamut of safety topics. They’re effective at teaching kids about automotive safety, water safety, cyber security, and what they need to do in case of a fire, earthquake or other emergency. The list goes on and on.
E-Books
With e-books and articles, you can offer kids access to electronic devices while teaching them about safety. Helping them to build their reading skills is just a nice bonus. Simply search for “children’s e-books” online to get access to e-reader downloads about kids safety. These are available from multiple retailers and various child safety sites.
Yes, the world can be a dangerous place. And of course, you’ll always worry about your children and their safety. But you’re not alone in your concerns, nor do you have to deal with them alone. With the variety of apps, games, online search engines, and other tools designed specifically to keep kids safe, technology can help make it easier.
