Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe Online
As a parent, it’s your job to protect your children. You want them to be safe, happy, and make good decisions. But what do you do when they go online?
With the seemingly endless list of apps, websites, and social media platforms available today, it can be hard to stay on top of each one. And that’s not even taking into account all the changes that happen daily due to new technological developments!
Thankfully, there are some key things you can do as a parent to help keep your kids safe while they’re exploring their digital lives. If you want your child(ren) to have fun online without putting themselves in danger or compromising their privacy, read on!
Teach your child how to wisely use technology.
If you want your child to be safe online, it’s important that they learn digital citizenship. This means teaching them how to use technology safely and wisely.
It’s also important that they understand the difference between a real person and a fake one. Your child should know when information is shared with them in private messaging, so they can make decisions about whether or not it’s appropriate for them to share personal details like their name or address with strangers online.
Know which apps and sites your child is using.
Knowing which apps your child is using and the sites they visit is important. You want to be aware of what they’re doing on their devices and what information they are sharing online.
Knowing this will help you keep an eye on what goes on in their lives, including how much time they spend online or playing games, as well as where they are spending it and whether there are any risks involved with certain activities like chatting with strangers or sharing personal information online (e.g., location).
Discussing bullying, harassment, and cyberbullying with your kids
Bullying is a big problem online, and cyberbullying is an even bigger one. If you’re a parent, it’s important for your child to know how to deal with bullying and that they can come to you if they are being bullied.
Parents should talk about cyberbullying specifically so that kids know what it looks like and how it feels for someone when they experience it. It’s also important for kids to understand that even though these behaviors may seem harmless or fun at first glance (like sending mean messages), over time they can cause serious harm by making people feel bad about themselves or their lives in general.
Encourage your kids to talk to you about their online activities and experiences.
You may think that it’s your job as a parent to keep an eye on what your children are doing online, but if you want them to be safe, it’s important that they feel comfortable coming to you when something goes wrong.
If your child is uncomfortable talking about the things they see or read online, encourage them by showing interest in what they do have time for—and show appreciation for the time spent talking with them about their interests at all!
Encourage open communication between parents and children about social media usage habits so everyone knows where each other stands on issues like privacy settings and friend requests from strangers (or even people who aren’t strangers).
Monitor kids’ online activity (and be available if they need help).
Monitoring your kids’ online activity is a good idea, but it can be difficult. If you’re not sure where to start, consider these tips:
- Be available if your child needs help navigating the internet or talking through their feelings.
- Don’t be too harsh or judgmental if they make a mistake; instead, try to understand where they were coming from when they made the mistake and why it happened.
- Don’t be too strict or controlling—this will only make them feel more nervous about asking for help when they need it in the future. Instead, encourage them by showing that you care about their safety online and want them to make smart decisions online just as much as offline!
Talk to other parents about what tactics they’re using to monitor their children’s digital lives, including the best parental control apps out there.
This is one of those topics that can be difficult to talk about with friends who don’t have children (or whose kids are older than yours), but it’s important for your and your child’s safety that you do so.
Parents need support from each other as you navigate this new world together, even if your experiences vary slightly from family to family.
Work together with school officials and local law enforcement on efforts that promote digital literacy and cyber safety education for young people in your community.
If you’re concerned about your child’s safety online, you may be tempted to contact the police or school officials. They can help you understand the laws that apply to your situation and provide support for your family. They may also be able to offer resources for cyber safety education in your community.
Keeping children safe online takes work from everyone who cares about them.
- Parents need to be involved in their kids’ digital lives. Your children may tell you that they don’t want you looking over their shoulder, but it’s important for them to know that you care enough about them and their safety online that you’re willing to do it anyway, and they can expect the same from other adults who care about them, like teachers or grandparents.
- Children need to know how technology works so they can use it safely and responsibly on their own terms (and with supervision). They should also learn how to report abuse or suspicious activity when they see it happening online or how not to engage with strangers themselves through social media platforms like Facebook Messenger or Instagram Direct Messages (DMs).
- And finally, kids should learn how personal information is collected and used by websites so that they can take steps towards protecting themselves against identity theft down the road.
Showing your child how to use the privacy features on social media
You can help your child learn how to use the privacy features on social media by showing them how to do it and why it’s important.
Show them how to use the privacy settings on their accounts, including who can see posts and what information is shared with apps and websites (like when you log into Facebook through another website).
You might also want to explain why it’s important for kids to not only have strong passwords but also change them regularly, especially if they share devices with other family members or friends.
Teaching them how to use chat and messaging tools responsibly.
The best way to teach your child how to use chat and messaging tools responsibly is by example. If you’re on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or other similar services, make sure they see you using them regularly and that you’re doing so in a way that reflects the values of your family.
If your child has access to one of these tools themselves, consider setting up a separate account for them where only people who have been approved by the parent can contact them through those channels. If necessary, explain why this is important: “I want us all to feel safe when we talk online.”
Remember not just what privacy settings exist but also what they mean before sending any messages out into cyberspace—particularly if someone approaches you with an unsolicited message first!
Teaching your kids about the importance of following digital safety rules
Teaching your kids about the importance of following digital safety rules is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. It’s also easier than you think because there are many basic concepts that can be explained in simple terms. Here are some examples:
- Don’t give out personal information online (age, address) unless it’s absolutely necessary for something like an online purchase or game registration.
- Never share photos or videos without permission from everyone who appears in them—even if they’re friends! This includes selfies; make sure everyone has their face blurred before posting anything on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. If they don’t want anyone seeing their pictures ever again, then delete them completely from your device once they’ve been shared once already so no one else sees them either (and yes, this means even deleting messages).
- Always check with mom or dad first before clicking links sent by strangers through email addresses such as Hotmail, Outlook, etc.; if something looks suspicious, don’t click anything until talking about it first. Remember, there are no free lunches!
Keeping up with the latest news about social media security breaches
- If you see something suspicious, contact the platform’s customer service immediately.
- If you have been hacked, change your password and review any settings that could allow someone else to access your account in the future.
- Keep track of all devices connected to your account by checking out “Sign In & Security” in the app settings menu or on desktop computers. This will help ensure that only people with whom you want to share access can do so, and it gives them an additional layer of protection if they’ve been hacked as well!
Emphasizing the importance of digital citizenship.
As a parent, it’s important to emphasize the importance of digital citizenship. Digital citizenship means that your child is able to behave appropriately online and understands how they should act on social media platforms.
It’s also important for parents to teach their children what it means when someone says something rude or mean on the internet, as well as how they can respond in a positive way that promotes positivity overall. You may be thinking, “My kid is too young for this.” But teaching them early can help prevent future problems down the road when they’re older and have access to more information about what could happen if you don’t teach them these things now.
The internet is a great place to connect with friends and family, but it can also be dangerous. You know your child best, so it’s important for you to keep an eye on what they’re doing online. Take the time to talk about these tips with them so they understand how important it is to be safe online.
The Benefits of Reading to Your Child. Read here: https://ifitsallaboutbaby.com/the-benefits-of-reading-to-your-child/