Zeeko Advice Hub

Learn how to help young people to safely benefit from the Internet and technology

Helping Kids Strike a Balance when it comes to Tech

Teaching kids the importance of creating a balance when it comes to their use of digital devices cannot be underestimated. It can be particularly challenging to promote a balance in the use of tech in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Read on for some advice on helping kids strike a healthy balance. Making sure…

Put Online Safety First if you're Buying Tech for Kids!

With many online retailers offering discounts on technology at the moment our blog this week offers some tips on putting online safety top of your list. Digital devices can be a great gift but it’s important to always be conscious of the age appropriateness of such a device and also the messages you need to…

Digital Assistants: Keeping Kids Safe

Are you being pestered to add a digital member to your household? Our blog this week looks at the role of digital assistants and how best to keep your child safe when it comes to using them. Digital assistants are a growing part of everyday life. These are better known by their titles, the most…

Helping Kids Manage Their Screentime!

Managing screentime can be a real challenge, particularly at a time when we are being asked to spend more time at home. Our blog this week offers some tips on helping kids to create a balance when it comes to screens. The reality is that in this digital age screens are everywhere. Children could potentially…

Teaching Kids to Identify Fake News!

As we all adjust to living with Covid-19 we are being encouraged to only engage with legitimate news sources. This is an ideal opportunity to teach your child about the importance of identifying fake news.   Developing the ability to decipher what is real from what is fake when it comes to online content is certainly…

The Importance of Digital Health for Kids

The current pandemic has led to significant changes in the way we live and has also led to a focus on the importance of promoting health and wellbeing. A key element of this is undoubtedly digital health. Digital health focuses on creating a healthy balance in our use of technology. Obviously, being conscious of digital…

Making a Digital Contract part of the New Routine

  As we all settle in to a very different academic year it may be an appropriate time of the year to consider creating a digital contract with your kids. It will help everyone to consider their use of tech, which is something which can get overlooked at such a hectic time of year. Read…

Starting the Conversation about Staying Safe Online!

  There have been lots of changes in the lives of children and teenagers over the last number of months. Like all of us they have had to adjust to a new normal and now face into a very different new school term. There may be a lot of uncertainty around, but one thing does…

Helping your Child to Stay Safe Online this Summer!

After a challenging number of months for everyone in Ireland, let’s hope long sunny days lie ahead and along with the sun another thing that can be guaranteed during the summer months, is that your child will want to spend some of their time using technology. So, here are some tips for what you can…

Ways to Stay Connected to What your Child Does Online

It is likely that over the last number of months your children have been spending more time than usual online. While this is understandable given the role, technology has played in helping families to stay connected, it may be a good idea to review with your child what they are doing when the are online.…

Teaching Teens about Digital Etiquette: Zeeko Tips

Helping your teenager to understand the importance of ‘digital etiquette’ is the focus of our blog this week. Here are some tips to you can pass on to your teen to help them to be more conscious of their online behaviour. Teach the “Grandma Rule”: As communication via social media becomes ingrained in our culture,…

Zeeko Tips for Keeping Kids Safe Online!

While we are currently unable to deliver our seminars physically in schools due to the Covid-19 school closures we wanted to share some of the advice we  offer to parents when it comes to talking to their kids about staying safe online. This advice comes from the experience we have of listening to kids at…

Digital Literacy has Never Been so Important

There is no doubt that this period of lock down has highlighted the importance of connection within families and communities and technology has played a big part in establishing and maintaining that contact. It’s going to be increasingly important that kids are what we term digitally literate in the years ahead. One of the core…

Teaching your Child about their Digital Footprint

  During this time when we are all being asked to #stayhome and #staysafe to help to stop the spread of Covid-19 it may be a good time to teach your child about the concept of their digital footprint and how important their digital footprint is for them now and in the future. If you…

The New Face of Education: The Use of Technology

There is no denying that the current public health situation that is gripping Ireland means that our kids have had to adapt to new ways of learning and experiencing education. The basis of much of this education is technology. Our blog this week looks at some of the platforms that children are using to stay…

Make Staying Safe Online a Priority

  As Ireland’s lock down is extended for a further three weeks have a read of our tips for making staying safe online a priority conversation in your home during this challenging time. Start and keep the conversation going: Talk to your child as much as possible about how important it is to stay safe…

Age Ratings on Games:What you Need to Know

  We are all adjusting to a new type of normal as Ireland continues to do everything possible to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. It is probable that your child wants to spend more time than usual gaming online at the moment and especially over the Easter break. Our blog this week looks at the age…

Tips for Helping to Create a Balance in the Use of Technology

The reality is that in this digital age screens are everywhere, particularly now during the Covid-19 pandemic. Children could potentially be spending time looking at a screen from the time they wake up every morning. What can we do to help children better manage their use of screens and create a balance in the use…

Listening: A Key Tool in Helping to Keep your Child Safe Online!

  It really is important not to underestimate the power of listening when it comes to getting a handle on what your children are doing when they spend time online. Listening to their experiences the good and the not so good will be a great help to you in helping them to stay safe online.…

Kids and Smartphones: Is there an Appropriate Age?

  With technology being all around us it is inevitable that your child will at some point ask you, or pester you, to get their own smartphone. It’s one of the most common questions we get asked by parents. What age is the right age for a child to have a smartphone? Smartphones can undoubtedly…

The Zeeko T-Shirt Rule on Posting Content

  Although it’s far from the time of year for wearing t-shirts, you may have heard your child talk about the T-Shirt rule, well you have Zeeko to thank for that!  When we visit schools all over Ireland to talk to kids about staying safe online, one of the topics that gets the biggest reaction…

Getting Started on a Digital Detox this Mid-Term!

  With the mid-term break just around the corner our blog this week offers some tips for getting your kids started on a digital detox. In a world surrounded by technology it is always a good idea to build in a regular digital detox and that’s not just for the younger members of the family!…

Fact or Fiction? Teaching your Child about Fake News!

With a 24-hour news cycle surrounding us it can be a big challenge to get a handle on separating fact from fiction.  Developing the ability to decipher what is real from what is fake when it comes to online content is certainly a crucial skill, not only for children but adults too!  One area where…

Cyberbullying: Helping your Child to Deal with it

  Unfortunately, the cyber element to bullying is a growing concern for parents and schools. There was a time when bullying was confined to face to face interaction. With the growing use of digital communication, the cyber element to bullying is only increasing. What can you do to support your child if they become the…

How to Stay in Touch with What Kids are Doing Online!

Do you regularly wonder what your kids, particularly teenagers are doing when they are online? Do you find it challenging to keep up with what children are doing when they are online? These concerns are totally understandable as parents lead increasingly busy and demanding lives. It can undoubtedly be a juggling act to keep on…

Being Digitally Literate is a Must for Kids

  For all the negative press the online world receives it is very important that kids are digitally literate and feel empowered to make informed choices to help them stay safe when they are online. One of the key principals of our work at Zeeko is to help kids to become good digital citizens, in…

Make 2020 the Year Online Safety is your Priority!

  It’s a new year and a time when there’s lots of talk about resolutions and changing or breaking habits. Here are some easy to follow tips for helping to make staying safe online a year-round resolution! Start and keep the conversation going: Talk to your child as much as possible about how important it…

Unplug from your Digital Devices this Christmas!

  Firstly, our team at Zeeko would like to wish all the readers of our blog a very happy Christmas and every good wish for a fantastic New Year! Our final blog of 2019 offers advice on spending some time unplugged from digital devices over the Christmas holidays. The festive season can be a demanding…

Kids and Tech at Christmas: Creating a Balance!

As the Christmas edges ever closer  it’s a good time to remind your children whether they are young or a little older about the importance of staying safe online over the next few weeks. It is highly likely that Santa is going to deliver smartphones and/or digital devices in all their different forms to homes…

Games Consoles: Staying Safe this Christmas

  Is there a chance that a games console will be a gift in your house this Christmas?   If so, what can you do to help ensure that your child stays safe while playing on a console? The first thing to do is to check out what parental controls are available with the console…