There is only so much you can control in life. This is especially true when you have young children that grow into curious tweens and (inevitably!) willful teens. The older our little ones get, the less say we as parents seem permitted. On the one hand you want to support their independence, on the other you wish they remained inside a safe little bubble where you controlled what they did. Since the "bubble" approach to parenting is obviously no good, the best we can do is make sure we equip our children with good information and the confidence to use good judgment.
Being armed with the combination of good information and good judgment is particularly important when you allow your child to be online. Talking to your kids regularly about how to be safe goes a long way. Even if you think they aren't listening, some or all of what you tell them is bound to sink in. So the more you can make the topic of keeping safe online a part of your day-to-day conversations, the more you provide your child the building blocks for a fun, enriching and safe online experience.
Although it is up to each parent to develop the rules that best apply to your child, there are some fundamental household rules that every parent should think about including.
? Keep the computer in a central location in the home instead of a child's bedroom.
? Anything that makes a child feel uncomfortable should be shared with a parent.
? Do not believe everything you read on the Internet.
? Children cannot meet people they meet online without a parent.
? Do not share passwords with anyone, including friends.
The best way to teach online safety is to provide tips that are directly relevant to your child's specific online activities and interests. For example: if your child likes to share pictures, ask about their favorite sharing sites. With whom do they share pictures? What types of pictures do they share? Then continue the conversation by asking if they know what happens to pictures once they are posted online: Are they setting privacy preferences for their pictures? Do they know what happens if they don't have privacy settings in place? There are a number of ways to start the conversation. Check out the Parent Resource Center from our friends at ikeepsafe.org for some great ideas on introducing online safety to your family.Another tip: Keep the conversation two-way. In other words, encourage your child to ask questions and even challenge your advice. This is particularly effective as they get older. Few things are more off-putting to a teen than being lectured in a one-sided "talk" where they have no input. Your challenge will be ensuring your teen doesn't feel they are being cross examined when you start inquiring about their online activities. The earlier you start regular conversations (not lectures) about online safety, the more at ease and receptive your child will be as they grow.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carolyn Reynolds 11-14-2008 @ 3:39PM
I agree that it's really important to set some ground rules before you let your child use the Internet. But we all know that kids are curious and can get into dangerous situations, especially online. I bought this software that sends me e-mail alerts when a certain keyword is typed in chat, e-mail, etc. along with a full transcript of all online activity. This way I can make sure that my daughter is being safe.
The software:
http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/spector.html
Reply
MJ 12-04-2008 @ 9:24PM
Carolyn,
Great ideas...however emails are not completly secure...
This software will let you monitor everything that happens on a computer from any computer with internet access. One time purchase is all it takes..no monthly fees. Strongest program out there for protecting kids online and knowing what all happens on a computer.
take a look... http://www.mynetshepherd.com
Reply
solace108 1-27-2009 @ 5:26AM
Wonderful ideas!Creative minds create a creative world.Children must be listened to properly because their innocence means a lot. Grown ups are mature but they too have space for learning.
Direct mail marketing
Reply
Arizona direct mail 1-27-2009 @ 5:28AM
What's more interesting than to listen to a child.
arizona direct mail
Reply