PW invited parents of The Emerald Heights World School, Indore to share their insights on how they teach their children about cyber security

“For our second-grader Kabir, cyber safety begins with clear rules and consistent supervision. All devices at home are secured with parental controls, and we enforce strict daily screen-time limits. Kabir is allowed to use digital devices only in shared family spaces, ensuring responsible monitoring. We regularly explain that sharing personal information, passwords, and photos online is as risky as handing house keys to a stranger. Along with these technical safeguards, we encourage open conversation so he feels comfortable discussing anything unusual he encounters online. This combination of trust, guidance, and protection helps him develop safe and responsible digital habits from early age” — Kavita Jain, HR manager

“For our son Jay (grade IV), cyber safety lessons began early with helping him recognise harmful online content that promotes aggression, fear, bullying, abuse and unhealthy behaviour. I always encourage him to trust his instincts and immediately tell a trusted adult if anything online feels scary, confusing or uncomfortable. Before setting up his email account and digital devices, I activated parental controls and have taught him to protect his identity by using aliases instead of real names. I also encourage him to share his artwork/ hobbies without revealing his identity or location. I believe rewarding children for identifying fake profiles, scams or inappropriate content, fosters confidence, awareness and the habit of seeking help when required” — Aanya Jai, psychologist, Director @Pro_Behave

“In today’s connected world, and even more so in the era of generative AI, no age is too early to learn about cyber safety. For our son Bodhi (grade IV), we try to build awareness through simple, everyday conversations without making him overly wary of technology. We talk about never sharing passwords or OTPs, being careful with photos and personal information, avoiding messages or links from strangers, and checking with a trusted adult before making an online purchase or whenever something online feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Most importantly, by practicing caution and discipline in our own digital habits, we can set the right example and help children navigate the digital world safely, responsibly and with confidence” — Sampada Wagde, Manager, DXC Technology

“As a working parent, I occasionally depend on screen time for my children — Advit (grade IV) and Sharvi (UKG) — but within carefully defined limits. Their online activities are closely monitored, with clear family rules in place. They must seek permission before downloading apps or content, never share personal information, and always use devices under parental guidance. We remind them that if an online activity must be concealed from a parent, it should never be undertaken. From my side, I have disabled pop-ups, installed reliable antivirus software, and restricted sharing of photographs or personal updates. We encourage open conversations about their digital experiences” — Astha Gupta, Vice President, Healthcare and Lifesciences MarketsandMarkets