For the first time in history, children are growing up with an online presence if their life from a very young age. But this is not something you can monitor 24/7. From cyber-stalking to cyberbullying, hacking and porn, the internet is not always a safe place for anyone let alone a child. So how do you protect them along the way? Here are some tips…
- Understand the internet: The first thing to do is to ensure you yourself understand how the internet functions and what problems a person of any age could face. You have to keep updated and stay one step ahead of your children. Find out about the dangers lurking online.
- Have open conversations: It should be a priority to have chats with the kids about the time they spend online. Start at a very young age so that they get used to discussing anything abnormal with you. Encourage them to talk with you about their time online. Inform them about the dangers of visiting certain types of sites.
- Teach social media etiquette: People get carried away on social media often. Teach your children that it is fine to block that unpleasant person. Make sure they know they deserve the same respect online as they would in real life.
- Insist on online privacy: Youngsters, especially teens, have a tendency to leave their privacy settings open. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, teach them to keep their life private. If they don’t like you barging into their rooms to check up on them randomly, they should object to strangers doing the same!
- Online is real: Teach your child that if he or she wouldn’t do something in real life, they shouldn’t do it online. The line between the internet life and real life is often blurry at best. The sense of anonymity is a false security.
- Online is permanent: Excuses for silly photos, drunken pictures, racist or sexist comments for the heck of it don’t cut ice with future employers, universities, or even prospective life partners. Make sure they understand the long-term consequences and behave properly online.
- Be online friends with them: There is no need to spy on your children, but you can gently guide them around the cyber-world if you are part of the scenery there. The younger they are, the more this is required.
- Use filters: This is especially true for younger children who often don’t know what they are doing. Filter out nudity, rated language, and violence, making it less likely for your child to stumble upon something undesirable at random. Sit with them and help them filter out the same with sites they frequent regularly.
- Set some limits: The internet can be addictive, and it is only a downward spiral from there. You have to set limits on internet time so that your child also lives in the real world. The best way to do this is to turn off the Wi-Fi after lights out time.
- Work on all devices: Whether it is a games console, laptop, tablet or your child’s smartphone, don’t forget to secure everything they use. Understand how each device operates and what can be done with it before handing it over to your child to use.
- Make them allies: As they grow older, your children will find ways and means to keep their secrets, no matter how many restrictions you place on them. They will grow more and more savvy, and learn how to break the rules. Prevent this by keeping an open and ongoing dialogue with your child and encouraging them to consult you about their online problems. Never underestimate the value of a healthy and open parent and child relationship.
These steps above can help you ensure your child’s safety while they navigate the vast online world of the world wide web.
