5 Digital Safety Traditions to Nurture Family Joy and Peace This Holiday Season

I’m thrilled to welcome Julia Daniels of Ever Accountable back to Hopeful Mom. Julia lists some practical digital safety tips for us this holiday season. Check out Ever Accountable and use this link for 20% off.

Who can forget the iconic scenes in Home Alone when young Kevin finds himself all alone in the house while the rest of the family is traveling internationally for Christmas? He’s only eight – vulnerable, mischievous, and obviously relishing zero adult supervision. 

When Kevin’s mom suddenly realizes her young son is not on the plane with the family, I feel her wide-eyed panic in the pit of my stomach (Every. Single. Year.) as she exclaims, “KEVINNN!”

Meanwhile Kevin’s reckless enjoyment of his freedom (and sheer ingenuity) while he’s home alone reminds us all why kids need parents! 

In the midst of the holiday bustle, our children can quietly become “home alone” in their own secret digital lives. But the online dangers that lurk are far more serious and subtle than the larger-than-life robbery heist Kevin thwarted.  

No Child Should Be “Home Alone” Online: Why Digital Safety Matters More Than Ever

Festive lights and holiday cheer make it easier to forget that the dark side of the internet doesn’t close its doors for the holidays. 

In fact, rapidly growing risks from hidden threats like online predators, pornography, sextortion, and rampant child sexual abuse material (CSAM) have warranted FBI warnings. A recent report found that more than 300 million children worldwide are victims of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse every year. (UNSW Sites) 

Another study noted that the volume of CSAM reports analyzed by major safety agencies has increased by 87 % since 2019. (WeProtect Global Alliance)

While we prepare our homes for the holidays, let’s also prep our digital homes — with family traditions that protect our children, build trust, and keep healthy relationships at the center.

Here are 5 practical ways to accomplish these goals. 

1. Set Up Safe Search at the Source: Protect Every Device Before the Holidays Begin

Make this a core part of your pre-holiday checklist. Update your router or Internet service settings making certain that Safe Search and filtering apply to every device in your home and any guests using your wi-fi. 

While filters aren’t foolproof, they provide an extra layer of protection, quietly guarding the network.

Why this matters: Filtering helps remove potential “what if” moments before they happen. It’s a first layer of defense. 

Key Tip: Involve your kids. Explain your online digital safety net, but note that it’s not perfect. Remind your children that online mistakes happen. Help them feel safe to talk to you no matter what if something they see on a friend or family member’s device makes them feel guilty or uncomfortable. 

 2. Make Bedrooms and Bathrooms Tech-Free Zones: Digital Safety Boundaries

 Consider this step to be an online fire drill! Prior to holiday parties, sleep-overs and cousin get-togethers review a core digital safety boundary: no unsupervised devices in private rooms — bedrooms, guest rooms, bathrooms. 

Remind your family this includes devices brought by your children’s friends or minor relatives that visit. Why? Because online harms thrive in secrecy, not openness. If you get some pushback from older children, consider sharing this key news article about financial sextortion. 

“Since 2021, online sextortion has led to tens of thousands of cases and more than $65 million in losses, according to the FBI. More tragically, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports, it has led to over three dozen suicides.” – ESPN.com

Why this matters: No boundaries are fool-proof, but when young people know devices are always to be used in shared spaces, you reduce the risk of their exposure to sextortion, pornography, or even self-generated CSAM. 

Pro Tip: Be okay with being the weird parents. When you send invite text messages or holiday email invites include your digital safety policy: “Just a quick heads-up! We have a family digital wellness policy: screens stay in shared spaces like the living or dining room when children are around. It’s simple, safer, and lets us enjoy your presence more. Thanks so much!”

3. Create a Family Charging Station and Model Healthy Tech Habits

Pick a “home base” for all devices overnight — kitchen counter, living room shelf, whatever works for you. Make device-rest at night an ongoing practice, not just a holiday tradition. Before bed, devices go to the charging station, including devices of all overnight minor guests. Parents, lead by example and put your phones to rest, too. 

Why this matters: It eliminates late-night scrolling dangers, reduces “alone with a screen” moments, and contributes to a healthier sleep schedule.

Bonus Tip: Use a few simple bedtime check-in questions to create connection and closure.

• What did you enjoy most today? 
• What surprised you?

 4. Practice Online Accountability, Not Anxiety

Using online accountability tools like Ever Accountable (use this link for 20% off) can provide peace of mind during the busy-ness of holidays. Accountability apps run quietly in the background on your family’s devices, flagging concerning activity that appears onscreen and sending a report to a trusted partner.

Let your child know: “I’m not checking online activity because I don’t trust you. I do trust you and want to keep an eye out because online dangers are sneaky. That’s not your fault!” 

Why this matters: Digital accountability tools provide a safety net and conversation starter rather than a scoreboard of shame and accusations. 

Pro Tip: Have a brief “family check-in” reminder on your calendar during the holidays so you don’t forget to look at the weekly accountability reports. Ask without judgement, “What’s one thing you saw online this week that made you stop and think? Was it positive or negative?” 

Exchange Screen Time for Real Time Connection. One tradition Julia Daniels of Ever Accountable recommends in this article: 5 Digital Safety Traditions to Nurture Family Joy and Peace This Holiday Season #digitalsafety #holidaysafety… Share on X

 5. Exchange Screen Time for Real Time Connection 

The best digital safety net you’ll ever have is a loving, open connection with your children. When young people feel seen, valued, and engaged offline, they’re less likely to seek unhealthy validation online. 

Not gonna lie, though! It requires hard work and planning to intentionally create positive off-screen choices during this busy season. Consider investing in a few new games. 

Creating holiday traditions of enjoyable “non-screen moments” could include after dinner activities like:

• Playing charades /card / board games (CLICK HERE for Barb’s recommendations)
• Reading a great book aloud
• Watching movies with hot cocoa
• Making paper chains or other holiday decorations
• Singing carols, karaoke style
• Sharing your own legendary family stories 

Why unplugging matters: Mindless scrolling vs. memories of fun and laughter? That’s a no-brainer choice in the long run. Plus, unplugging reminds the whole family that people matter more than pixels. 

Positive Parenting Tip: How about taking a page from Mary Poppins, “a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down”? Let every child choose their favorite holiday snacks as part of “family fun time.” 

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: Happy Holiday Memories 

We don’t want our children to feel like Kevin eventually admits in Home Alone — he’s terribly lonely, vulnerable, and wondering what happens next. 

Instead, let’s form healthy family holiday traditions that include real connections, joy, and mental wellness by setting firm digital wellness boundaries and unplugging regularly from screens. 

In the end, your goal isn’t blocking every website or restricting every app. Instead, it’s about building a home where people young and old(er) feel safe, seen, and free to talk about things that matter. When your young person stumbles or struggles, as we all may, you’ll have a digital safety net of love, connection, and honest conversations.