Introduction
Many parents have been struggling with how to teach their kids about internet safety, and the reality is that we all want to protect our children from any danger that may exist. But this is not an easy task, especially given how quickly technology changes. The best way for a parent to do this is through continual discussion about these issues and teaching them skills they can use to stay safe online. Here are some tips on teaching your child about internet safety!
7 parenting tips on teaching your child about internet safety
1. Start by talking
Parents should have family conversations about the internet, social media and online safety. It can be a scary time because children may not understand the dangers that lie before them. Still, it is essential to explain different scenarios where they could get themselves involved with cyberbullying or identity theft. Sit down with your child and let them know how they can avoid these situations.
2. Start early
The earlier parents can start teaching children about the internet, the better off it will be for them in the long run. It is essential to expose your child to computer use and online safety before using it themselves. Otherwise, there may be some surprises when they figure out how to use a computer independently.
3. Start slow
No matter what age your child is, you must start them off slowly when using the internet. When they are young and just beginning to learn about computers and mobile devices, parents need to start them off with safe sites for children to use.
4. Let them play with your phone or tablet
Not only is this a great way to show them what the internet is like – it will also provide an opportunity to see how you handle things such as viruses and hacker attacks. This will give them some real-world experience which will help them better understand how to take care of themselves when they are on the internet.
5. Turn off location services
One of the first things you need to do is make sure that all location services are turned off – and this includes any mobile devices your children may have as well. This will ensure that if a child is using your device, they will not be able to easily share their location, which can lead to an abduction situation.
6. Make sure that they have the latest security patches installed on their laptop or computer
Your children’s safety rests in your hands – so you need to make sure that you are doing everything possible to ensure that they are safe and secure at all times. To do this, you need to make sure that all of their devices – including any PCs or laptops they have access to – are fully patched and up-to-date. This will help keep them safe from attacks via malware or other malicious code.
7. Set restrictions on their mobile device so they can’t access unsuitable content
The last thing you want is for your child to access sites or apps that could contain inappropriate material. By restricting their phone or tablet or by just placing it in a safe spot, you will ensure that they are kept secure at all times.
Benefits of internet safety for the kids
1. Enables the child to know and understand how cybercrime is committed
When you make efforts to teach your child about internet safety, you are teaching them to be aware of the dangers they could face daily. They will learn how cybercrime is committed and can usually apply it in other areas of their lives.
2. Allows you to see what your children are viewing on the internet.
If you decide to keep an eye on what your children are viewing, you will see what they are seeing. By sitting with them while they do their homework and checking their internet usage at the end of each day, you can learn which websites have been visited, how much time was spent on each one and when it was accessed.
3. Helps children to become better prepared for the future.
Teaching your children about cybercrime will prepare them for what they might face in their future endeavours. Suppose they are aware of the dangers that could arise from any given situation. In that case, this additional knowledge could keep them constantly on guard to catch any potential crimes and acts as soon as they see them happening.
4. Helps them to grow emotionally strong and resilient.
Cybercrime can harm your children’s self-esteem if they feel too ashamed about what has happened or when others attempt to bully or harass them online after they have fallen victim to something that is beyond their control. When you teach your child how to handle these kinds of situations, they will be better able to deal with the stress and anxiety of being a victim. They will also have a better way of dealing with the people online attempting to harass them.
Conclusion
How have you taught your kids about the importance of being safe online? The internet is a massive part of our culture, and it’s important to teach kids how to navigate the web in an age-appropriate way. Here are seven ways to do this, including establishing rules for online interactions and monitoring what your children see on each device they use. Contact us today if you need help with any of these strategies or want more information about teaching your child about internet safety! We specialize in creating plans that incorporate parental involvement, so we know all about guiding parents through this process.
