Maintaining your family’s digital wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic
March 2020 was the month we all became superheroes. As we entered a new decade just a few months ago, none of us could have possibly imagined we’d all be confined to our homes come Spring, yet here we are. But you should be proud. We should all be proud of the fact that around the world, people are uniting for a common cause, helping to minimize the effects of the biggest pandemic in recent times.
Sacrificing the little luxuries we once took for granted may seem like a small price to pay in exchange for saving lives, but many of us are starting to feel the cabin fever already. Trapped indoors with your entire family for weeks on end can put a new type of strain on those relationships and daily interactions. And with no place to go to burn off all that excess energy, living with young kids at this time is particularly demanding. Thank goodness for the internet, right?!
Well, yes and no. This miracle of the modern world allows many of us to work from home, have face-to-face video chats with friends and family around the world, and gives our children a vital link to their schools and teachers so they can maintain their education. But it’s also leading to another problem – the screen time pandemic.
Our data clearly shows a more than 100% increase in online activity in areas where governments have closed schools and imposed strict lockdowns. This spike exposes children to additional screen time-related problems and new online threats, forcing overwhelmed parents to quickly up their internet savvy to ensure their families’ digital safety.
We know you don’t need another thing to worry about at this time. As parents ourselves at Qustodio, we understand that, and are fully committed to helping families across the globe stay safe online – we are here to help! Here’s how our team of screen time superheroes can help your family of stay-at-home superheroes maintain healthy tech habits during the Coronacrisis.
What is Qustodio and what can I do with it?
Keep calm and count on our gang of Superheroes!
Slick, Iris, Zenia and Rocky will help ease your child into the new #StayAtHome routine by encouraging healthy digital habits and protecting them from online dangers.
Unplugged activity alert! Download your free #StayAtHome Superheroes coloring page here
Find the balance with Zenia!
More time at home doesn’t have to mean more time online. Bring some zen-like calm and good vibes to your home by scheduling in your family’s screen time and sticking to it. Zenia can help you define a daily schedule (super important when it comes to homeschooling!) to decide which times you will and won’t use screens. You can set daily screen time limits on different devices as well as limiting time spent on specific apps. Less time on social media apps like TikTok but more on educational ones!
A sensitive soul at one with nature, Zenia will restore harmony in your child’s life by banishing screen addiction and enforcing healthy limits. Zenia’s a big fan of communication – don’t just set limits – talk about them first! And be proactive! When screen time is nearly over, at bedtime, for example, start a conversation 15 minutes beforehand. Sit with your child and ask questions like “What are you watching?”, “Who is this character?” and “Remember in 15 minutes it’s time for bed.” This will help ease your kid back into the real world and make the transition smoother and tantrum-free!
Rocky says ‘no’ to online dangers!
Almost everyone is spending more time online right now, and unfortunately, that means more online baddies too. With Rocky around, you won’t have to worry about your child accessing inappropriate content. Tough on the outside but a big softie at heart, Rocky will keep any net nasties at bay!
Our smart internet filter scans web content in real-time and classifies it by category. No site gets by Rocky’s scrutiny, no matter how new it is!
Trust Slick to slice out addictive apps!
Fake news and disinformation on the coronavirus crisis are abundant online and especially prevalent on popular teen apps like TikTok. It’s’ a worrying enough time for kids and teens as it is. The last thing you want is to be adding to the anxiety. But no app is tough enough for our star ninja! He’ll ensure your kid doesn’t install sneaky apps or ‘forget’ about schoolwork during the lockdown. Smart and skillful, this nifty ninja will patrol your kid’s devices to foil unwanted and addictive apps.
Slick’s also got an extra trick up his sleeve for those sneaky unsupported browsers that kids might install to bypass your rules. Our Unsupported Browser Blocker automatically blocks over 200 of these under-the-radar bad guys!
Keep an eye out with Iris!
We know you have no plans to go anywhere (unless you’re one of our superhero front-line workers, that is!), but during a global emergency, it’s good to have extra peace of mind. Always alert, Iris supervises your kid to keep them safe. In the event of any unexpected movements, she’ll help you track your child’s location on the map in the blink of an eye.
You’ve got the power!
Chances are that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some unrest at home. Luckily, with Qustodio you have the power to keep screen time in check, tackle inappropriate content and maintain a healthy balance of tech for all the family. For more advice on parenting during the pandemic see our ideas for families to stay calm and screen-free.
