Technology is part of children’s daily lives from a very early age. According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under the age of five spend an average of two hours a day in front of screens. Tablets, mobile phones, smart TVs or educational apps provide them with learning and entertainment opportunities, but they also carry risks. As parents, concerns about parental control on the Internet are a reality: what are our children watching, what content can they access, how can we prevent them from falling victim to digital risks?
A DIGITAL WORLD WITHOUT FILTERS: THE DANGER OF EARLY EXPOSURE
Children’s early digital experiences can shape their relationship with technology in the future. Lack of adequate parental controls can expose them to inappropriate content, misleading advertisements or even unwanted interactions with strangers. According to a UNICEF report, 80% of children between the ages of 3 and 8 have accessed the internet unsupervised at some point.
In addition, excessive unsupervised screen use can affect their cognitive, emotional and social development. Without parental control on mobile and other devices, children are at risk of developing unhealthy digital habits, such as dependence on electronic devices or lack of social skills.
KEYS TO SAFE INTERNET USE IN CHILDHOOD
To ensure effective parental protection in the digital age, it is essential that parents establish rules and monitoring tools early on. Here are some best practices for effective parental control:
1. Setting parental controls on devices and applications
- Platforms such as Google Parental Controls allow you to restrict inappropriate content and manage usage time. Google provides official guides on how to set up these tools on different devices.
- Mobile parental control applications, such as Google Family Link, Qustodio and Norton Family, help monitor Internet access and set personalised limits based on the child’s age.
2. Accompany them in their first digital steps
- Exploring technology with children encourages responsible use and allows them to develop judgement at a young age.
- Establishing spaces for dialogue on the use of devices reinforces trust and digital education. According to a study by the European Commission on Safer Internet, children whose parents explain digital safety to them are 60% less likely to be exposed to risks online.
3. Establish clear timetables and rules
- Controlling screen time with fixed schedules avoids technology dependency and favours balance with other activities.
- Creating healthy technology routines, such as avoiding screens before bedtime, improves sleep quality and children’s well-being. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime to improve sleep quality.
4. Teaching about privacy and cybersecurity
- Explain to children the importance of not sharing personal information online and how to recognise potential threats.
- Use filtering tools and security settings to avoid unnecessary risks. The Office of Internet Safety (OSI) offers free resources to help parents in this task.
“If you think technology can solve your security problems, then you don’t understand the problems and you don’t understand the technology”.
CASVI VILLAVICIOSA: A SAFE AND EDUCATIONAL DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
At Casvi Villaviciosa, we understand the importance of a safe digital environment from the earliest educational stages. Therefore, we implement methodologies that integrate technology in a responsible way, teaching our students to use it in a safe and balanced way. Among our digital safety measures we highlight:
- Implementation of secure platforms: Our content control and filtering system prevents access to inappropriate websites within the school environment.
- Use of monitoring tools: We apply control software to monitor activity on electronic devices used in class.
- Digital citizenship training: Through workshops and practical activities, our students learn about privacy, cybersecurity and responsible use of technology.
- Collaboration with ICT security experts: We work with cybersecurity specialists to ensure a protected digital environment for our students.
Find out how at Casvi Villaviciosa we help our students to have a healthy relationship with technology.
In addition, our commitment to digital security has been recognised with the 17th Red Seguridad ICT Security Trophy, a prestigious award that endorses our efforts in the protection and technological training of our students.
