Child Online Safety Guide for Parents
Kids use phones, tablets, games, and social media every day. This page is designed to help parents quickly understand the biggest online risks, what to watch for, and practical steps to keep children safer and more supported.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 right away. For urgent mental health concerns, you can also call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Start Here: If You’re Worried About Your Child Online
- Ask open questions: “What apps are you using most?” “Has anything online made you feel weird or unsafe?”
- Move devices into shared spaces while you figure out what’s going on.
- Check privacy settings and recent activity on phones, tablets, and social media accounts.
- Let your child know they will not be “in trouble” for telling the truth about something scary or embarrassing.
- Contact school staff, a counselor, or law enforcement if you see threats, blackmail, or explicit contact from adults.
1. Online Predators & Sextortion
Online predators often pretend to be kids or friendly adults. They may build trust, ask for secrets or photos, and then pressure or threaten children. Sextortion happens when someone gets an image or video and then demands money, more images, or silence.
What parents can do
- Tell kids: never send nude or sexual images, even to someone they think they know.
- Explain that anyone asking for sexual content is in the wrong, not them.
- Make a plan: if they are ever threatened or blackmailed, they should come to you immediately.
- Save evidence (screenshots, usernames), then report to platforms and law enforcement.
- Remind kids that you will help them fix it, not shame them.
3. Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is bullying that happens through texts, games, or social media. Because it follows kids everywhere, it can feel impossible to escape and deeply affect their mental health.
Signs and responses
- Sudden fear or dread of checking messages or going to school.
- Deleting accounts or apps without explanation.
- Changes in sleep, mood, or appetite.
- Ask what’s happening, listen carefully, and avoid overreacting so they keep talking.
- Save screenshots, block/report accounts, and involve school and law enforcement if threats are involved.
4. Device Safety & Monitoring Tools
Parental controls and monitoring tools can help set boundaries and reduce exposure to harmful content. They work best when paired with clear expectations and ongoing conversations.
Built-in tools to explore
- Apple Screen Time (iPhone/iPad): app limits, downtime, content filters.
- Google Family Link (Android/Chromebook): screen time, app approvals, location.
- Microsoft Family Safety (Windows/Xbox): activity reports, web filtering, screen limits.
- Router controls: many home Wi-Fi routers can filter sites or pause internet for certain devices.
- Use tools as support, not as a secret spy; explain why you’re using them and what you’ll check.
5. Healthy Screen Time
Not all screen time is equal. Creating a healthy balance is less about a perfect number of minutes and more about making sure screens don’t crowd out sleep, school, relationships, or physical activity.
Practical ideas
- Set “device-free” times (meals, homework blocks, one hour before bed).
- Charge phones and tablets outside bedrooms overnight when possible.
- Use built-in timers and reminders to encourage breaks.
- Encourage offline activities your child enjoys: sports, art, reading, building, music.
- Model the balance you want to see; kids notice how adults use devices too.
6. Mental Health & Digital Use
Social media and constant connectivity can affect how kids feel about themselves and their world. Some online spaces are supportive; others increase anxiety, comparison, and stress.
What to watch for
- Big mood swings tied to going online or checking certain apps.
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or hobbies they used to enjoy.
- Comments about feeling “left out,” “not good enough,” or “everyone else is better.”
- Trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, or persistent sadness.
- If you’re concerned, talk to your child and consider reaching out to a pediatrician, school counselor, or therapist.
7. Talking With Your Child About Online Life
The most powerful safety tool your child has is a trusted adult they can talk to. Devices, filters, and rules are important, but they work best alongside honest, ongoing conversations.
Conversation starters
- “What do you like most about being online? What do you like the least?”
- “If something online ever made you uncomfortable, what would you want me to do first?”
- “Are there any apps or games your friends use that you’re curious about or unsure of?”
- “What are some good ‘online rules’ we should have as a family?”
- Reassure them: your job is to keep them safe, not to panic or shame them.
Family safety basics
- Agree on where and when devices can be used.
- Review privacy settings together a few times a year.
- Check in regularly, not just when something goes wrong.
- Let kids help design the rules so they feel some ownership.
Need Support or Want to Learn More?
You do not have to handle online safety alone. Children to Cherish can help you find resources, think through safety plans, or connect with partners who offer workshops and training for families.
- Reach out using our contact form to ask questions or request guidance.
- Join our mailing list for updates on parent workshops and new safety resources.
- If you ever believe a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 before anything else.
2. Social Media Safety
Social media is where many kids connect, but it’s also where oversharing, pressure, and contact from strangers happen. Privacy settings and strong family rules matter as much as the app itself.
Smart social media rules