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Plan to make your family’s future secure

October 14, 2021/in Financial Advice /by Sallie Bright

Today we have an expert article from J Finance, our trusted Financial Advisors in Newbury and Oxford, all about how to plan your finance’s to ensure your family’s financial security.

Financial planning for your family

There’s no denying it, children don’t come cheap, but by planning ahead and managing your cash flow, you can take some of the stress out of raising a family.

The cost of raising a child (excluding housing, childcare and council tax) from birth to 18 is £71,611 for a couple, and £97,862 for a single parent or guardian, according to the Child Poverty Action Group. https://cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/policypost/CostofaChild2020_web.pdf

When you consider these kinds of figures it’s obvious that planning ahead for your family’s future is the sensible option.

Planning for maternity leave

An additional cost to consider is maternity leave. Depending on your employment status, you may be eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay (which is paid by the employer and claimed back from the government). If you are not eligible, you may instead be able to apply for Maternity Allowance. Whatever you decide, you should be aware that you will receive less than if you were working – at least for some of the time. Plan ahead by putting some money aside, so that the household has the same amount coming in each month (look at putting the money into an easy-access savings account, such as a Cash ISA for example) – or focus on the household budget to find ways to save money while you are at home caring for your new arrival. It’s important to remember to keep paying into products such as your pension, so that you are not at a financial disadvantage later down the line.

To avoid strain on your relationship, make sure you make mutually agreed decisions about who will be the main carer, how your money will be divided and how you will pay for bills and baby things, so that it is fair for everyone and there is no resentment on either side.

Cost of childcare

One of the major expenses in the early years, which isn’t even included in the figure above – is childcare. Whether you choose a nursery, childminder, nanny or au pair, the cost of childcare can rise into several hundred pounds each month. As parents you will need to consider whether you earn enough to make childcare worthwhile, or whether the main carer wishes to continue working in order to ensure they do not lose progress within their career.

There are ways to make childcare more cost effective – you could nanny share with another family, for instance – and remember that the Government now offers a tax free childcare scheme (which replaced the old childcare vouchers scheme). https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year). There are also 15 free hours of childcare available weekly for 3 and 4 year-olds. https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Paying for school-age children

Once children start school, you may still have to pay for wraparound childcare if you work full time. That means paying for breakfast and afterschool clubs or local childcare. However, hopefully the days of paying out for full time childcare are behind you – don’t forget to factor in care for the school holidays though. Now, you will need to plan ahead for buying school uniforms and school shoes, especially if your child’s school has a strict uniform policy that demands blazers and sweaters with school logos, rather than generic items available from supermarkets and department stores. As they get older, there will be school trips to pay for too.

Of course, if you are planning on private education, this should be factored into your financial planning and cash flow forecasting, as you will be paying out several thousands of pounds each term.

Planning for special occasions

As children get older, they also start to cost more when it comes to birthdays and Christmas. When they are small, if money is tight, looking for second-hand bargains in charity shops and online selling sites is a great way to save money. Small people neither know nor care if something has been pre-loved, and you can usually find things in great condition that other people’s little ones have simply outgrown.

As they grow older, their demands may become more specific and expensive – bikes, games consoles and so on don’t come cheap. Nor do children’s birthday parties – with go karting, trampoline parks, pamper parties and laser tag parties for big groups popular within the 6 to 12 age group. So, planning ahead financially for special occasions will take the stress away and allow you to enjoy the occasion without worrying about how you are going to pay for it!

There are also all kinds of clubs and extracurricular activities to pay for. There’s something for everyone nowadays, whether it’s football training or dance classes, circus skills, musical theatre class or coding sessions. Budgeting for these extra activities will mean you can let your kids learn new skills, make friends out of school, and gain confidence and independence.

Looking ahead to further education

As they head into secondary school, the school trips will become more expensive – thankfully schools usually allow payment in instalments, and you can often find out what trips happen in what year, so that you can plan ahead once more. There will be books to pay for (it’s worth looking on Facebook parents pages for second hand uniform and revision books – often in mint condition and half the ‘as new’ price!).

And just when you think your child has reached adulthood, there will be more costs – university fees and living costs, driving lessons, and more. These are big commitments that may be funded by other means. Investing in financial products that will mature in time to pay for a car for the new driver, education fees and so on makes good financial sense.

Planning, planning, planning

The key to managing the finances for your family is in planning ahead. We may not always know how much we will earn, or indeed what our earning potential will be, but by looking at cashflow, and investing in the right products for the years ahead, you can make life easier and more comfortable for everyone.

Being a parent never ends. Nowadays with the high cost of property ownership, many parents find themselves using equity from their home to give their adult children a helping hand onto the property ladder. You can find more information about this at https://www.jfinance.co.uk/how-covid-19-has-changed-equity-release-lifetime-mortgages.

Planning the financial future for your family is something that should not be taken lightly. Getting advice from experienced professionals is definitely worth considering.

If you would like to discuss cashflow forecasting, financial planning, ISAs or any other financial matter, J Finance, which is a member of the Equity Release Council, will be happy to help. Please contact us without obligation.

Established in Berkshire in 2004, J Finance Ltd is one of the leading financial planning companies in the area. They serve clients across England and Wales. If you would like to discuss your mortgage or protection, please contact them on 01635 521 300 or email [email protected] You can find out more about J Finance on their website at www.jfinance.co.uk.

EQUITY RELEASE CAN AFFECT THE FUTURE INHERITANCE OF YOUR BENEFICIARIES, NOT TO MENTION YOUR OWN FINANCES. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BEST ADVICE IS SOUGHT DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND VARIATIONS BETWEEN ALL EQUITY RELEASE SCHEMES.

Sallie Bright

J Finance Ltd was founded in 2001 by Jonathan Bright and is a financial services company located in Newbury, Berkshire – though we serve the whole of the UK. We are a team of financial advisers and mortgage consultants who are focused on giving you, our clients, professional advice along with outstanding customer service. We do this by developing long term relationships and offering an excellent, personal service. We’ll take the time to discuss your current situation and your plans for the future, and we’ll use this information to help identify the best financial products for you.

What Are The Fun Aspects of Being Pregnant?

September 9, 2021/in Pregnant /by Louise McCamily

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, this means at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through them.

No one said it was going to be easy; no one said it was going to be this hard. That seems to accurately sum up the pregnancy and motherhood experience, doesn’t it? And this shouldn’t come as too big a surprise — it is, after all, perhaps the biggest thing that you’ll do in your life. Still, while there is, of course, an element of seriousness here, it doesn’t mean that it has to be serious all the time. Not at all! In fact, there are many fun aspects of being pregnant, or at least there can be if you make it happen. In this blog, we’re going to look at just some of the fun elements of being pregnant that you may have overlooked — who knows, the thought of these might just help you to get through those bouts of morning sickness!

Pure Indulgence

How many times in your life can you just sit back and do, well, whatever you wanted, without feeling guilty? For many expectant mothers, the last time was when they were babies. But now that you’re carrying another home, you’ll have the freedom to sit on the couch and watch Netflix, more or less as much as you want. This concept can take a little getting used to, but it’s recommended that you embrace the idea as soon as possible — the freedom to live this way won’t be around forever!

Celebration Time

There’ll be a lot of serious things you need to do, sure, but this is also an opportunity to have a celebration. So celebrate away! While you’ll have some fun and informal gatherings during the early days of your pregnancy, you’ll also want to look at having a more organised celebration at some point, too, such as a baby shower. Gather your friends, read up on some perfect baby shower games, and arrange some food and drinks to be served. You’ll have a special day that’s all about you and your baby — and you’ll have earned it!

Future Planning

You might be pregnant right now, but it’s not as if you’re going to be pregnant forever. Far from it! One day in the not too distant future, you’ll have brought your new baby boy or girl into this world, and you’ll be living as one happy family. While you have to plan what you’ll do when the baby arrives (where will they sleep, how will you decorate the room, etc.), this action can also be fun. Gather your partner and make a night of it.

The Journey So Far

Finally, one of the best ways to enjoy being pregnant is to put it in context. You’ll have come a long way on your journey so far, and there’s still so far to go. You’ll have a lot of thoughts and feelings, but it’s important to put a little bit of space between you and them. If you can, then you’ll find that what you’re doing and where you’re going is pretty remarkable — it’s an amazing time of your life.

Louise McCamily

Hi, I’m Louise- mum of one to a little boy called Mason.
I am the Digital Marketing and Admin Assistant for MyBump2Baby.
I enjoy working to provide excellent service to MyBump2Baby’s growing families.
Nice to meet you!

What is Income Protection?

August 31, 2021/in Financial Advice /by Luke Stevens

Income protection insurance is an important thing to consider if you are either a working individual, or a working member of a family.
MyBump2Baby are happy to bring you this article, written by Luke Stevens- director and protection advisor at- More Than Money.
This article will cover everything you need to know about Income Protection.

What is Income Protection Insurance?

In a nutshell, Income Protection is insurance that pays out around 70% of your monthly income (before tax) if you cannot work due to illness or injury.
The payments will continue until you can either return to work, your policy ends, or you die – whichever comes first (with any luck, the first one). This is known as ‘Full’ Income Protection.
One of the great things about Income Protection is that you can claim multiple times during the lifetime of your policy – even for the same illness.
AND there’s a version of Income Protection for those on a budget…
‘Short Term’ Income Protection allows you to receive an income if you cannot work for a set number of years, ranging from 1 – 5 years. If you’re still out of work come the end of your term, your payments will stop – however, this option can be up to 60% cheaper than ‘Full’ Income Protection.

What Would Happen If You Didn’t Have Income Protection But Were Unable To Work?

Without Income Protection, you’re really at the mercy of your employer’s sick pay policy and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), which in the UK is £96.35 per week paid out for a total of 28 weeks.
Better than nothing, obviously, but not much to live on when you consider mortgage or rent payments, household bills, groceries etc. Even less when you have children to support, and we all know how expensive they can be!
Other than that, you would have to rely on perhaps a partner’s single wage, any savings you might have or the generosity of friends and family.
Not a position any parent wants to be in.

Does It Protect Against Broken Bones?

Income Protection Policies vary according to the provider. Still, the majority will cover you for any illness or injury that keeps you off work, including a broken bone!
However, suppose that broken bone results from an extreme sport you regularly take part in. In that case, you might find that the insurance company won’t pay out IF you didn’t disclose your hobby when you applied for your insurance.
Some Insurers also offer an add on called ‘Fracture Cover’ that would pay out a cash lump sum on top of your monthly instalments if you broke certain bones in your body. This is an excellent inclusion for people with manual jobs.

Would it Protect Against Being Unable To Work Due To Restrictions?

Income Protection Insurance will cover you if you can no longer perform your job due to illness and injury, including mental health issues.
You’re not covered if you simply quit your job, are made redundant, or if your employment is terminated by your employer.
This includes restrictions placed on you by Covid-19, for example, as the responsibility of this has fallen to the Government.

When Is The Best Time To Get Income Protection?

Today!!!
Your premiums will never be cheaper than they will be today. As with most types of insurance, you will pay more as you get older and your chances of becoming ill or injured increase.
To put it bluntly, nobody wants to pay for Income Protection Insurance until it is too late.
Whether you NEED it at the time is different. For example, if you’re a teenager living rent-free, being off work might not be too bad.
However, it is an entirely different story if you’re a parent with dependent children, rent/a mortgage to pay, and all the extra costs, including raising a family.

How Long Are You Covered For With Income Protection If You Are Unable To Work?

‘Full’ Income Protection Cover will pay out monthly if you are unable to work right up until your policy ends – and the length of that is up to you. You might want your policy to last up until retirement or just up until a certain age.
‘Short’ Income Protection will only payout for up to 5 years per claim – but is significantly cheaper.

Contact More Than Money

More Than Money are MyBump2Baby’s trusted financial advisors, based in Ashford.
Address: 9 The Singleton Centre, Singleton Hill, Ashford, TN23 5GR
Website: https://morethanmoney.uk/
Email: [email protected]
Telephone Number: 01233 555 454

Luke Stevens

Gulliver’s Kingdom Review, Matlock

August 19, 2021/in Days Out in the UK /by Katie Raybould

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, this means at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through them.

I have great expectations for summer of 2021, 1- because of a hopeful end to COVID-19 restrictions and 2- as my son Sebastian starts his reception year at school in September, and feeling like we have missed a good chunk of days out over the last 18 months I just want to make the absolute best of the summer.

And what a way to kick start our summer of adventures with a weekend trip to Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock, Bath. We booked the stay and play deal which includes accommodation and the theme park tickets for the day of arrival and for the following day. Seb was extremely excited about his sleepover in the pirates retreat and made me promise I would bunk in with him in the triple layer bunk bed!

Check-In and Parking

Check in is 4pm, although you can arrive earlier to collect wristbands for the park.

Parking at the cabins is for overnight guests only and free, however it is still a good walk up the hill to get to the first entry point of the theme park, so we drove up to the next car park. All Parking at Gulliver’s is free; however places fill up fast, we struggled slightly with a 1230pm arrival time, but a friendly member of staff directed us to a good spot to find a space.

Straight through at the check in gates, amazing! And this was consistent throughout the Theme Park, with minimal queuing all day, perfect when attending a theme park with an impatient pre-schooler, and also meant we were able to experience most rides on our first day.

RIDES AT GULLIVERS KINGDOM MATLOCK

Gulliver’s kingdom Matlock is a medium-sized theme park with a good variety of rides aimed at 3–13-year-olds. There are a couple of rides/attractions aimed at older, more adventurous visitors. 13 of the rides Seb was able to jump on with no problems at all. He was disappointed with not being able to ride the tree top drop and unfortunately, we had to queue to get to the front to find this out via their wooden flags, this could be avoided by a measuring chart outside of the queue?

Sebastian, not a huge fan of the log flume, but loved every single other ride we went on, his top 3 favourites; log coaster, pirates ship, and the excavators (not strictly a ride, but most definitely a dream come true to an obsessed digger fan!!)

Because of minimal queue times, we were able to re-visit all our favourite rides several times, this means you really do feel like you get your money’s worth!

Gulliver’s World Western World

Gulliver’s kingdom is built on a hill and divided into theme sections. Working your way up the hill with each new theme stacked on top of each other until finally reaching the top, where you find the log flume in the western world. A fun little area with a cowboy and Indian vibe, the log flume being the main attraction here as the royal mine cave was closed during our visit.

You can purchase your ride photos of the log flume for £7.95, a great little souvenir of the day!

Scare Safari Kingdom

A steep down hill walk takes you to a small soft play area, a big hit for my 4 year old (not so much for his 11 year old neighbour who joined us for this trip) After letting off some steam in soft play you will find yourself in the Safari Kingdom. With Several rides here to enjoy, and some fabulous views over Matlock. In Fact the whole park has stunning, and very peaceful views over the Peak District.

Located in safari kingdom is the top entrance to the chair lift which takes you the to the bottom of the park, and back (if you want to go straight back up, you do need to jump off and re-join the queue at the bottom) We all loved the chair lift, not just because it saved our poor tired legs, but because of the moment of calm it provided with the wonderful views through the park and hills of the peaks. Gulliver’s Matlock is a very picturesque theme park.

Smuggler’s Wharf

Jumping off the chair lift you are greeted by the pirate ship in smugglers wharf, land of the pirates! The Gulliver’s pirate ship is great, and suitable for younger members of your family as much as the older ones, you will find the larger movements to the rear of the ship and more subtle swings in the centre, we tried both the middle and back seats, with many giggles and squeals on both! Smuggler’s wharf is also home to a little boat ride to calm the nerves after the pirate ship!

Walk back up the hill to enjoy the log coaster,JCB land and the crazy barrels! We spent a bit of time trying to scoop up balls with the life size excavator diggers and mini diggers. A firm favourite with Seb, I think he would have been quite happy to spend a full afternoon with the diggers! Log coaster is a mini rollercoaster with a few fast dips with twists and turns, also great fun for all ages.

Lost World of the Living Dinosaurs

One steep hill walk further to explore the lost world, full of dinosaurs, some robotic roars and awesome photo ops! The main attraction here is a huge water boat slide, we didn’t experience this, as I have a bit of an irrational fear of slides, maybe next time I will be brave enough! It did look fun!

Up one more level and you return to the safari Kingdom.

FOOD AND DRINK AT GULLIVER’S KINGDOM

Inside Gulliver’s kingdom there are plenty of food stands on most, if not all levels, where You can purchase hot food and snacks. A children’s meal deal from inside the western world cafe, for example, is a very reasonable £5.95 for a cheese burger, fries and drink, add a couple of pounds extra for the adults version or a pizza for £11 (large enough for 2 to share) A cart’ dor ice cream stand located near the chair lift, if you fancy a real ice cream treat. Slushies are available with a choice of flavours around the park. You first purchase the cup and drink for £4 all following top ups are £2. I did notice that a lot of the small drink stands closed just after lunch, so you need to visit one of the larger food outlets to buy drinks and snacks. Gulliver’s also allow guests to bring in picnics and there are plenty of bins around to dispose of any rubbish.

There are also lots of restrooms and baby changing facilities located all across the park, they are also very well maintained and cleaned regularly.

WHAT WE LOVED

The rides all aimed at younger children, and an easy introduction to theme parks
Friendly & approachable staff/entertainment staff
Stunning views and environment
Clean facilities
Not over priced
Small queues

WHAT COULD BE BETTER

Dated characters and buildings could do with a freshening up in places.
The ability to measure children before queuing
Drinks stands open longer

THE OVERNIGHT STAY

Pirate Room

This was the part of the trip that my 4-year-old son was most excited about, he could not wait to stay in the Pirates room, and I have to say, he was not disappointed.

The pirates’ retreat is so well thought out and attention to detail outstanding, our room was immaculately clean with everything we needed for an overnight stay. The triple bunks are cleverly crafted into a corner of the room away from the main bed and t.v. A curtain closes off the children’s sleeping area too. I can confirm that the bottom bunk was large enough for an adult and comfy too! If I was to stay for more than one night, I think I would prefer a ground floor level room with easy access to outdoors.

On-site Dining and Entertainment

Expecting we would need to head to the nearest town for food, I was pleasantly surprised to find we could eat and enjoy the evening’s entertainment on site. Huge thumbs up to the evening staff here, they did a cracking job at keeping the momentum going and the children (and us adults) entertained.

We ordered a couple of pizzas, sides, children’s drinks and a bottle of wine for £49 Pizzas were very tasty and portion sizes generous. They do come in takeaway boxes, which means a lot of waste and not much space on the tables to eat.

As promised a special mention goes out to ‘Magic Ash’ who wowed us with his card tricks, our 11-year-old guest couldn’t let him go without requesting his autograph.

We won the bingo and danced at the mini disco.

We missed out on the movie and cookies as we were a little tired after such a fun day!

The Cost

Park entrance to Gulliver’s kingdom when purchased in advance is just £17 per person.

A stay and play one night varies in price depending on peak times but averages £190 during the summer months.

The Take-Away

Overall, I would 100% recommend a trip to Gulliver’s. Do go early, wear trainers for the steep hills, enjoy the views andhave fun on the rides!

Katie Raybould

How to Strengthen your Family’s Bond

July 23, 2021/in Baby /by Carla Lett

How to Strengthen Your Family’s Bond

A sturdy relationship with your family takes a lot of work, commitment and deliberate actions to build. While several family types exist across the UK, married and civil partner households account for two-thirds of existing UK families. Take a moment to think about your family – how do you keep the connection strong? Please read this article for more ideas and tips to strengthen your family bonds.

Create memorable family traditions

Family traditions are unique to different households, making it imperative to create yours. The most common traditions are set during festive occasions when families get together to celebrate the moment. Other instances can be summer holidays or special bank holidays which hold special meaning for the family. Logically, family members move out of their primary home to find accommodation elsewhere once they become adults.

However, they will all be compelled to return and reunite for these unique traditions. In other instances, a non-citizen spouse located abroad may be required to join their families in the UK during these festive occasions. In situations like this, you will need credible spouse visa UK services to facilitate your journey. Fortunately, there are legal establishments in the country to provide expert advice on this process.

Focus on experiences instead of material things

According to ScienceDaily research, people tend to place more value on experiences with their families than on material possessions. The awareness of being loved by family holds more value than the satisfaction derived from a material item. Therefore, consider a more memorable activity that will stay with family members for a long time, instead of presenting physical gifts on birthdays.

A better alternative can be a planned hike with the family, a day at the spa or a road trip. Remember that the objective is to create experiences and not to make family members overly dependent on material possessions they can benefit from at particular times of the year.

Consider volunteering together as a family

Volunteerism is an act of love for your community or anywhere else you choose. It is even better when executed with younger children who are still in their formative years. Donating your collective time and physical efforts to a worthy cause is an excellent way to strengthen the family bond.

Moreover, volunteering as a family is a great way to teach your kids strong values. Kids easily commit things to memory, making this activity a better way to instil model behavioural traits in them. The following are examples of things you can do as a family:

Spend a day in a home for the aged and help out
Spend time-making cards for hospitalised kids
Prepare and serve hot meals in a shelter

Indeed, time is an irreplaceable and valuable resource. A strong family foundation is necessary for your family’s emotional and mental development. Moreover, children from strongly-bonded families tend to behave better. Therefore, it’s imperative to strengthen the bonds you have to maintain unity. Hopefully, you’ll consider these tips for the best results.

Carla Lett

Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.

She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.

Is It Wise To Grow A Family In Different Countries?

July 23, 2021/in Home & Lifestyle /by Louise McCamily

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, this means at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through them.

One of the most complex legal areas is family law regarding having children with someone in another country. Family reconnecting is an area of law that is not as well developed in the global sphere and so, each country has its own set of rights and laws. For example, if you are an American and you have a child with your boyfriend or girlfriend in France, what kind of rights do you have to bring your child home and or your partner? It’s a grey area with lots of potholes and unsuspecting traps. The question thus arises, is it really wise to have or grow a family this way?

No one is perfect

The bottom line is, life is complicated. If you feel it’s right to have more children or a new child with someone who you love in another country, then this is right for you. They may be a great person, work full-time and bring in a great income. They may help you with the bills and pay for the child’s clothes, etc. The only thing is you’re separated by a set of laws and a border. However, countries and politicians know this, and they understand the need for families to be reconnected. That is why often, there is not necessarily a need for the partner who is arriving to be economically apt to the country. In other words, the normal employment laws for foreigners may not apply.

You have help

Okay so it’s not an ideal situation, but you have plenty of help to sort the situation out. If you hire a immigration solicitor they can help you to make a case for your child, partner, or spouse to come to the country. However, they will make a good case, getting ready for some employment opportunities, doing a background search of their criminal record to show they are within the law and a whole host of other things. An immigration legal expert is going to be aware of the latest changes in law. These laws may be so new that even workers in large government services might not be fully aware of how they are to be implemented. So hiring a legal team is your best bet.

Citizenship by birth

Depending on the laws of the country, where your child is born is where they will become a citizen. Of course if you are an American and you give birth to a child in Panama, this doesn’t mean your child is not an American. It really depends on the registration laws of your country. If your child is born in another country and is not returned home with you, this could affect their citizenship rights. So it’s best to always give birth in the country in which you live or are a citizen of. So be careful when you’re growing your family with someone who is not a citizen.

Life is complex and will never be straightforward. If you really can’t help who you have fallen in love with, when you grow your family, then at least you always have legal help to reconnect families.

Louise McCamily

Protecting your Family in the Online World

April 16, 2021/in Home & Lifestyle /by Carla Lett

The online world can be a dangerous place; as adults, we understand this clearly. However, our kids aren’t so clued into what can happen to them when they share too much online, or visit websites that aren’t healthy for them, or start talking to strangers on a regular basis. As parents, it’s our job to teach them what’s right and wrong about these things, and make sure they stay safe no matter what they get up to online.

However, seeing as the modern world is ever evolving, it can be harder than ever to keep your kids safe when they’re using the internet. From online schooling to connecting with their friends in online games, who really knows what’s happening in between? Well, here are some tips on making sure you keep up your child’s online habits, and make sure they’re always safe when in front of a screen.

Monitor Your Kids Screen Time

Screen Time is something most kids are allocated these days, as it’s not a great idea to let anyone under the age of 18 sit in front of a computer or console all day long. And as such, kids like to cram a lot into their allocated time using screens, whether this be instant messaging, online gaming, or simply surfing the web.

But during these moments, make sure you know what your kid gets up to – you can ask them outright, if you expect them to be honest with you, and you can also use some parental controls that come inbuilt in most forms of technology these days.

Indeed, you can even download an app that could help you to keep up with who your child is talking to, or what websites they’ve visited. Using a free trial of a popular background tracking app, you could be instantly alerted if your child visits a ‘banned’ website, which will help you to keep them safe when they’re online, especially if they’re 14 or younger and don’t know any better.

After all, many kids can stumble upon sites by accident, and without any fault on their part, see and hear things that just aren’t good for them at such a young age. And if you don’t monitor their screen time, they can go back to check these sites out again when they’re next allowed on. Kids can get very curious, after all.

Make Sure They Understand What Can Happen Online

Finally, if you really want to be sure that your child is aware of how the online world can affect them, be sure to have an honest and open conversation with them about the dangers of the internet. Don’t hold back here, but don’t go overboard; you need to get the message across, but you definitely don’t want to scar your child for life!

First, set some boundaries. Make sure your kids know what they can and can’t do online, and what you expect of them. If there are rules in place from the start, they’re far less likely to break them.

Then, you need to make sure you know what you’re talking about, before you go in depth about what could happen online. Then, make sure you’re talking about age appropriate levels of internet safety – you wouldn’t talk to an 8 or 9 year old in the same way you would talk to a 15 or 16 year old! After all, an older teenager can learn how to get around parental controls, and trying to enforce these on them might just be a waste of time.

Most of all, make sure your child knows they can come to you whenever something online has upset or angered them. Make sure they know you’re a source of safety, no matter their age, and that they can tell you all about what’s been going on without any fear of judgement or punishment. Even as adults, the internet can sucker us in, so make sure your kids feel they have a healthy and supportive offline relationship to rely on.

What to Keep in Mind

In order to protect your family online, it’s a good idea to monitor what they get up to. Make sure your kids have boundaries to follow, an allocated amount of screen time, and fully understand what can happen to them when they’re active in the online world. All in all, implement a policy of honesty about the internet, and make sure your kids are always comfortable to share what they come across with you.

Carla Lett