Reliance on the internet reached an all-time high during the pandemic. Children are relying on them more than ever. However, we have to keep our children entirely safe from physical and digital harm. This 360-degree protection will ensure that they can grow the best way possible. The first thing you should consider is the school they will be attending.
A Safe School
Your child will spend most of their childhood in school, so it only makes sense that you choose the right school for them. Safe schools have different characteristics, and some schools can be safe regardless of not having all of these characteristics. Nonetheless, it’s an excellent choice to choose a school with these characteristics.
Proactive Guidance Counselors
About 20% of children are reported to be bullied, and many organizations believe that this number is a lot higher if we include those who are bullied online and those who have not admitted to it. To reduce the chances of your child being bullied, search for a school with proactive guidance counselors.
A safe school has proactive guidance counselors. If you want to keep your children safe from bullying, depression, and anxiety, they’re going to need someone to counsel them. There’s a good chance that bullies are also counseled daily, which means they have the necessary information to change themselves. Moreover, anti-bullying campaigns will always be out when guidance counselors are proactive.
Emergency Measures
A school needs to be prepared for any emergency that will happen, and you should know these emergency measures beforehand. Check if they have a panic alarm system for schools installed and other emergency alarms such as an emergency siren or bell. They should also be well-equipped with emergency prevention equipment such as fire extinguishers, and this prevention equipment should be checked and certified annually.
A Well-Stocked Clinic
Lastly, you should check whether their clinic is well-stocked and has certified doctors working for them. Of course, it’s better if these doctors work full-time in school, but a part-time doctor is still a good sign. However, they should have at least one nurse working full-time inside the school to reduce the chances of fatal accidents.
A safe school has these different characteristics, and it’s in your best interest to find a school with all of these characteristics. When it comes to keeping them digitally safe, there are a lot of factors your child needs to know. So the first step is to sign up for a child online wellness seminar.
Child Online Wellness Seminar
The number of children found on the internet is increasing. Estimates have shown that 90% of children (those aged 17 below) have a social media account. The internet is an essential thing nowadays, especially because of the pandemic. It’s used to connect with others, alleviate boredom, and even continue schooling. However, the internet can also be a dangerous place for your child. That’s why it’s important to bring them to a child’s online wellness seminar.
These seminars will teach your child the essentials of keeping themselves safe on the internet. It’ll teach them not to make their personal information available anywhere unless it’s essential. They might also have to stop disclosing their real name to strangers. Such seminars will always make them aware of online predators that are stalking them or the existence of stranger-danger on the internet.
Your children’s knowledge of the internet can determine how much they can keep themselves safe. However, it’s also crucial that you implement an extra layer of protection.
Subscribe to a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that will ensure that you’re children’s identity is safe from any prying eyes on the internet. It makes it harder for hackers to penetrate your network. Furthermore, it can protect your IP address and any internet activity in your network. Almost every American household needs to have a VPN for their network, and it should be your utmost priority for your children.
Limit Their Internet Use
There is now much digital software that can limit your child’s internet use. It can put them on a timer and ensure they don’t stay on the internet for too long. This can also be applied to their gaming time.
Other digital software can also protect your child from inappropriate material. Some social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have parental controls. Make sure to turn these on so that your child is filtered from potentially harmful and inappropriate content on the internet.
Our children need every layer of protection they can get in both the real and virtual worlds. These layer of protection can determine their growth. So, ensure that they are kept safe from such things by implementing these measures.
