Tools to keep kids safe

Choosing the right content for your family can be challenging. But broadcasters provide you with a range of ways to help you decide what is suitable for your tamariki and rangitahi. On free-to-air television there are several easy ways you can make sure that what they watch is going to be OK for them, including:

Setting parental locks on your TV or set-top box
Checking the classifications
Knowing the times when M, 16 and 18 classification programmes can play
Looking out for audience advisories: symbols and warnings
Talking to your kids about what they watch, how it makes them feel and what upsets them
If they see something that upsets them, talk to them about it. Check out some of the resources on our resources section.
You can also look up reviews of many programmes on the internet - see our resources section.

Setting your
parental locks

Parental locks let you password block programmes or specific channels (on SKY). You can password block adult content by blocking PG, AO, M, 16 and 18 certificate programmes. Here are some handy hints to help you use parental blocks on your TV:

If you watch through Freeview on your TV or set-top box, go here to start.
If you have a SKY decoder go to SKY here to start.

‘How To Dad’ dad
Jordan Watson
explains the changes

We asked How to Dad, Jordan Watson, to explain the changes and to give us a tour on how parental locks work and how you can use them – his video is only a minute long.

Audience Advisories are here to help Understanding the programme classifications

Where do I find the programme classification and audience advisory information?

You will be able to find out more about the programmes your kids want to watch through:

The Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), which you can see when you turn on your TV and go through the guide
Other TV Guides like your local newspaper, Listener or the TV Guide Advisories
On-screen warnings
Classification labels appearing on-screen and in the EPG

The EPG and printed guides will include a short description of the programme, the classification and may include an advisory symbol (L, S, V, C).

Keep a special look-out at the start of programmes as on-screen warnings are also shown before programmes that contain more coarse language, sexual material, violence or distressing content than could be expected. This is a very good way of knowing whether a programme is right for your child.