Who should talk to them?
No matter how uncomfortable it makes you, it has to be you.
Your children will meet many people who will play very important roles in their lives, such as relatives, friends, and teachers. However, none of them can take your role as a parent. In the eyes of a child, it is you who holds all the answers and can help them if they are unsure of what to do next.
When should you talk to them?
From the first moment a kid shows an interest in your tablet, smartphone, or computer, you should start explaining things. There are many rules we teach children to keep them safe in the real world. There are just as many for the online world. While the immediate threats to personal safety might come in a different form, the potential for harm is just as real. As your child grows up, new problems will arise, and the appropriate advice will change. Kind and loving guidance for new situations might be the decisive step, which will push your kid in the right direction.
Education – a two-way street
Do you feel like your children know more about computer technology than you do? You’re not alone.
Children these days are digital natives and are adept at using new technology. For many adults, digital skills must be acquired. However, knowing how to access the internet is not the same as using it safely.
There is no need for you as a parent to know more than your children about what is going on in the virtual world. But you should be in control in case your kids come across something unfamiliar and need to discuss it with someone more experienced.
The important thing is to make the child a part of the debate: create an environment where they can ask questions freely and have time to absorb new information.
Here is some advice for different age groups that will make children’s online activities safer.
UP TO 10 YEARS OLD
1. Accompany them during their first experiences on the web
Make sure you are there when your little ones take their first steps in the digital world. The first contact a child has with the internet is a good opportunity to sit down and guide them in their new adventure.
2. Set conditions for the use of the internet
Set basic rules for using the internet. A good practice is to supervise the number of hours spent online and set times during which web access is allowed.
3. Be a good example
Children usually take their parents’ behavior as an example; this applies in real life and online. If family members behave positively, a child is likely to follow suit.
11 TO 14 YEARS OLD
1. Teach them not to share information that might identify them
It is important to make it very clear to kids that in the virtual world, not everyone is a friend, and that some people may even want to hurt them. Explain why it isn’t safe to share information such as address, phone number, school, or after-school activities they attend. The child should also ask you for authorization before sharing potentially sensitive pictures on the internet.
2. Keep dialogue open
Encourage your kids to be open with you and ask freely about what they see on the internet. If using a desktop computer, try to install it in a room where the whole family spends time and where it may be under your supervision, not in their bedroom.
15 TO 18 YEARS OLD
1. No one else should know their passwords
We know that teenagers can be difficult, but make sure they understand and exercise best practices when it comes to passwords. Respect the privacy of your teenager, but at the same time make sure they never give a copy of their passwords to a stranger, or lend them to another person, in person or over the internet.
2. Immediately report stalking and cyberbullying
Remember the school bully? The big kid who was making life really hard for the others? Nowadays, many bullies have moved to modern technology and are hiding behind the internet. What hasn’t changed is the fact that they try to psychologically harm others. Therefore, children should be told to immediately inform their parents if they ever experience bullying
3. Online financial transactions are only for adults
Purchasing something on the internet should not be a problem, as long as it is carefully done. Until kids understand the necessary precautionary measures to be taken when sending personal financial information, they should do so only under their parents’ supervision.
Making a Safer Internet a Family Commitment
By combining communication, supervision, and education, families can create a safer online environment. Starting the new year with these guidelines ensures that children can enjoy the internet responsibly, safely, and confidently.
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