As kids across Florida head back to school, and others are completing classwork online, it’s important to prepare them for success and safety—not just in the classroom, but in extracurricular activities, social settings and on the internet.

As a parent myself, I know firsthand the challenges of working and raising children, but we should never be too busy to teach online safety. The internet places volumes of information at our fingertips; and unmonitored internet access can inadvertently expose children to human traffickers, sexual predators, identity thieves and harmful content.

Here are some tips for parents to protect their children online:

• Limit search engines to keep results age appropriate;
• Manage screen time on certain apps, or the device as a whole; and
• Know all user accounts and passwords your child has.

As a mom, I worry about the amount of time that my child spends online and his online safety. With kids back in school in Florida, we want to make sure they stay safe—especially when they are not with us. Parental controls go a long way in safeguarding your children online and can be easily activated using your mobile phone.

To learn more about using parental controls, click here.

By monitoring our children’s online activity, we can keep them safe from harm, and build a Stronger, Safer Florida.