Contributor Patricia Dimick shares her insights and safety tips to teach our kids when it comes to using the internet safely and effectively.
The internet is a useful and helpful resource – when used appropriately. Unfortunately, it also creates potential dangers for your children if they are not educated on how to safely use a computer or mobile phone. However, with the right boundaries and open discussions about the hazards of the internet, you can teach your kids how to use, explore, and navigate the benefits of the online world.
- Identify Potential Online Dangers
The internet introduces your children to an entirely new world of learning, communication, and fun. Through websites, programs, and other online avenues, your kids are able to expand their horizons, learn about new places and things, and meet new people. But while all of these connections and relationships can be beneficial, they can also put your child at risk. Communicating with the wrong people, visiting the wrong websites, or downloading the wrong software can hurt your computer and compromise your child’s safety. You will want to teach your children not to click on ads, ignore suspicious emails, and to always ask your permission before downloading or installing software.
- Protect Your Personal Information
One of the biggest internet dangers comes with sharing personal information with the wrong people. It is extremely important to teach your child not to publicly share any sensitive information, such as their name, birthday, address, telephone number or school.If this information falls into the hands of scammers, sexual predators, robbers, or other criminals, there could be serious consequences. Your child could become a victim of identity theft, so it is critical everyone in the family knows how to prevent that from happening.Remind your children that they should never talk to strangers online. If someone they don’t know asks for their information, tries to meet up with them in person or attempts to give them gifts, tell them they should let you know immediately.Remember to explain the difference between dangerous strangers and helpful strangers. Not all strangers need to be avoided. For example, policemen or other adults of authority can be helpful if they are ever in trouble.
- Teach and Model Proper Online Behavior
It is very important to teach your child how to behave appropriately appropriately online. Remind them that their online profiles are a reflection of who they are offline and any content that they post can easily be misinterpreted. Appropriate online behavior includes acting responsibly and respectfully, and thinking twice before posting anything.Spend some time with your child online and show them what good online behavior means. Raise their awareness of cyberbullying and remind them that there is someone real on the other end of the computer. They shouldn’t allow the protection of a computer screen to turn them into someone they are not.
- Encourage Sharing of Online Experiences
Your children may become secretive about what they are doing online. They may feel embarrassed if they accidentally encountered an inappropriate site or feel scared if a stranger contacted them. They may feel ashamed if they are experiencing cyberbullying and don’t want you to know.Let them know that you are always available to talk about their online experience and any problems they may be having. Since the internet can be a truly dangerous place if it is abused, keeping you updated about problems or issues can ensure they are safe and protected.Teach your kids how to react if they experience cyberbullying and let them know they should always report inappropriate online behavior, whether it is happening to themselves or if they see it happening to someone else.
- Reinforce That Real Life is Lived Offline
The internet can open so many new doors to education, entertainment, and communication; however, it is easy to become trapped in an online world. That is why it is necessary to remind your child that real life happens offline.Talk to your children about the dangers of spending too much time online. Remind them that they need to get outside, explore the real world, and interact with their friends face to face. Set boundaries of how much time they can spend online and make sure that they follow and respect those rules.Teaching proper time management skills can help them keep activities and online time under control. Encourage them to sign up for clubs, play sports, and get active during the day. Set timers and monitor their online time, especially if they are playing computer games or browsing social media.
In order to make informed decisions online, you and your children need to be educated on the dangers of the internet. When your kids fully understand the potential risks and hazards, they can make smart choices about what they do, who they interact with, and how much time they spend online.
Be sure to educate your children about what is appropriate and what is not appropriate on the internet. Keep an open dialogue about what they’re doing with their online time, monitor their social media profiles, double check that they aren’t getting into any trouble and always be there when they need to talk to you about their online experiences.
Patricia Dimick is a freelance writer from Denver. She’s also a fun stay-at-home mom, a bit of a tech freak, a nature lover and a huge fan of DIY projects. You can follow Patricia on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.