CISA's advice for parents comes down to seven habits: take part in what your child does online, use a shared space, set clear limits, check their activity, keep the conversation open without punishment, give them a limited account, and use parental controls. None needs technical skill.
The seven, in plain words
CISA lists these tips for keeping children safe online:
- Participate together. Play a game or research a shared interest with your child. You supervise while teaching good habits.
- Use a shared space. Put the computer in a high-traffic room so you can see what is going on and step in.
- Set clear limits and discuss risks. Agree age-appropriate boundaries for time, websites, software and tasks. Talk about the dangers of oversharing and cyberbullying, aiming to build awareness without causing fear.
- Track online activity. Know which sites your child visits and who they talk to through email, messaging or chat.
- Stay open to conversation. Tell your child they can come to you about anything strange or upsetting, without fear of punishment.
- Use separate user accounts. A limited account gives a child less access to your files and fewer privileges.
- Use parental controls. Restrict websites through your browser, password-protect those settings, ask whether your internet provider offers child-safety services, or install monitoring software.
Which ones matter most
If you only have the energy for two, pick numbers 3 and 5. Rules without a trusted relationship tend to get worked around. A relationship without any rules leaves a young child with too many choices.
Number 5 deserves a second look. A child who expects a punishment for reporting a strange message will keep it to themselves. If the first response to bad news is "give me the phone", the next bad news will not reach you.
Making them work in a modern home
Several tips were written with a family desktop in mind. Today the device is often a phone. Adapt them:
- A shared space can mean "phones charge in the kitchen overnight" and "homework happens at the table".
- A separate account on a family computer is easy. On phones, use the built-in child account system. See the posts on Screen Time and Family Sharing and Google Family Link.
- Controls should be explained, not hidden. Older children notice and resent secret monitoring.
Reviewing as the child grows
Limits that suit an eight year old will feel wrong at fourteen. Review them on a schedule, say every few months or at the start of each school term, and give more freedom as trust builds. Make the change visible: "you now get X, and here is what we expect".
Quick check
Is it enough to install parental controls?
No. CISA lists controls as one of seven tips, alongside taking part, shared spaces, clear limits, open conversation and limited accounts.
Should I punish my child if they show me something upsetting?
CISA advises letting children know they can come to you without fear of punishment, so they keep telling you.
Sources
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
