Whether they are clicking an ad link inside their favorite app or watching a YouTube video that is not kid-appropriate, there are minefields everywhere on the Internet. How do you assure that you’re keeping your child as innocent and as safe as possible while not removing every piece of electronic equipment from your home? Here’s a few simple ways to shut out the smut and create a safe sanctuary for them online:
1. Teach Cyber Safety
Your child was not born knowing that it’s important to turn off the location services on their phone or to never give out their home address online. Someone needs to teach them these critical pieces of information that we may take for granted as adults. Depending on the age of the child, it may not make sense to scare them with the full range of issues that might occur from giving out their personal information, but be sure they understand that Stranger Danger can happen online, too.
2. Set Some Rules
Kids take to electronics like a duck to water, and stopping or curbing their usage can be more difficult the more ingrained in their device they become. Start early and set rules around when they can be online. Many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) such as Yahoo, AOL, Comcast and others make free parental control tools available. Verizon and other mobile phone carriers also have limiting controls that you can utilize to ensure children aren’t up all night surfing the web.
3. Be Available and Don’t Judge
Your child looks to you to provide them with knowledge and experience about everything, and the experience of being online and interacting with others digitally is no different. Be sure your child knows that you are their safe sanctuary–the one place they can turn without fear of judgment or reprisal should they have questions or see something they don’t understand. No matter how good your parental controls are, no matter how much you attempt to protect them, there is still a high probability that your child will see something disturbing online and need your guidance to see how to react.
4. Understand Their Tech Toys
Unless you know the full capabilities of the electronics that they’re using, you will never know what kind of craziness they are getting into without even meaning to. Kids are frighteningly smart little creatures, and they share information with their peers that they think helps them “get away” with something or pull one over on their parents. Outsmart them by staying up to date on the latest gadgets and mobile apps. For instance, did you know that you can download hidden apps that look just like a calculator app but have a much more nefarious purpose? This is information you need to know.
5. Follow Your Kids Online
When your children are old enough to get a Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, Vine or YouTube account be sure you are following them and seeing what they have to say to their peers. Even if they are being perfectly angelic, you still have to guard against cyberbullying and inappropriate conversations. Check into their text messages and get involved with what other children are talking about. Create small teachable moments that can give rise to broader conversations in the future.
While you can’t protect your child from every possible danger on the Internet, taking these simple steps can help them understand where the true dangers lie and how to navigate around them with your assistance.