With Christmas looming, it is a busy time for parents buying presents and making sure that they will have happy faces on Christmas Day morning.
Whilst traditional toys such as Lego, board games and character figures are still popular, there is an increasing number of interactive toys which are becoming more fashionable. These are usually called ‘The Internet Of Toys’ and often have internet connection through the home wifi and an associated app for further functionality.
In addition, smartphones, tablets and games consoles are also popular choices for many children. In my recent talks with children in primary schools, it is not uncommon to find 7 or 8-year-olds with their own smartphone. Also, many children have easy access to a tablet, and these are now a tool to play games, watch movies and take pictures.
So, we know that technology toys and devices will be a popular choice this Christmas, but how can parents make them safer? As in the old Christmas song, here are the 12 Tech Tips for having a happy holiday:
- Buy wisely as there are many options for purchasing interactive toys and devices and it is important that parents look at the suitability of different devices for their child. For instance, some companies such as Amazon make a ‘kids’ specific tablet which includes a child-friendly web browser and limits content that can be downloaded to the device.
- Before the big day, it is recommended that you set the device up so that parental controls (see next tip) are enabled. This will give you peace of mind over the Christmas period.
- If you purchase an interactive toy or device, look at what parental controls are built-in. Many devices enable parents to control screentime and limit functions on the device. A useful site to look at parental controls is Internet Matters.
- Parents can limit what their child can access on their home broadband. Family-friendly filtering is a good way to monitor your child’s access to online content. Contact your broadband provider for further support.
- Apps are keyway that children access software e.g. games on tablets and smartphones. Look at the parental controls to ensure that they cannot download an app before you approve its suitability. When you look at whether an app is appropriate for your child, check the age ratings on the App or Play Store.