Did you teach them how to be safe online when using them, too?
Bad Santa!
Many of these electronic items allow Internet access or have the ability to send and receive messages, pictures and videos.
As a parent, you should realize that many of these allow your child to play with people from all over the world. They can also communicate with them.
So, it’s time to have a chat with your child about using any or all of these items. Here’s my 3 Post-Christmas Internet Safety Gaming Quick Tips:
1. Make sure your game player knows to not give out personal information to fellow game players. This
is information such as their names, ages, address, school or phone numbers.
2. Check the game system instructions for information about privacy controls and parental restrictions that can protect children.
3. Encourage children to report inappropriate contact with strangers, especially sexually suggestive comments, attempts and such.
For Your Tween
Just because these items connect to the Internet does not mean you actually have to do it. Assess what comfort level you have with your child alone online. Assess their ability to understand the most basic online safety skills. If either of these have the slightest uncomfortable feeling to it, do not connect them to the Internet. Neither you nor your child are ready to take on the world of online strangers at this time.
For Your Teen
Teach them to be part of the solution. Teens understand the Internet and its connections to others, especially people they don’t know. Make sure your teen readily accepts the responsibility to online safety practices in exchange for the privilege of being online, no matter if they TEXT, FLIX or PIX. Empowering them with trust and respect for themselves and others will go a long way.
Internet safety for busy parents with not time for more in their lives is a prevalent concern I hear about all the time.
Do you want your child safe whenever they are on the Internet? Of course you do! Tell me, when are you going to carve out time to teach them even the most basic online safety rules? Once you teach them, how much more time are you going to carve out of your day to follow up, monitor and confirm they are, in fact, doing those safety tips?
I’ll do it for you! This is exactly where I’m expert – online safety tips for busy parents.
I’ll transform your child into a pillar of safety online whether they TEXT, PIX IM or FLIX.
Starting Friday, February 6, I’m going to be posting Morning Coffee….eSafety Quick Tips for Busy Parents. In a few short sentences, in plain, simple language, you can pick up an instant safety tip once a week and use it immediately.
These great tips are also going to be presented for parents with tweens, teens and even young kids and for any number of ways they can connect into the Internet.
Read it over morning coffee, or download the podcast to your iPod and listen to it on your way to work!
It can’t get any easier or safer for you, your child or family! Come back every Friday for the best Internet Safety Tips for Kids with Busy Parents.
Internet Safety Rules to Establish with Your Children Children’s Internet safety is best applied when you set some rules up for them to follow when online. Whether it’s a school project, emailing friends or poking around a chat room, children on the Internet go many places.
The ability to make new friends and communicate with current friends is exciting for children. However, it is important to take a closer look. Did you know that sexual predators often use the internet to target unsuspecting children and teenagers? Anyone can hide behind a computer and create a new identity. This is one reason why it is important that you, as a parent, set rules for your child when they use the Internet.
First, let your child know that they cannot give out their personal information online. There is absolutely no reason why they should give anyone their address or phone number online. Make sure that your child knows that just because the person they are talking to online claims to be a 16 year old boy or girl, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.
Two, it is also important to prevent your child from posting personal pictures or videos of themselves online. However, this is something that many children do. Make sure they are portrait type photos, those that show head and shoulders only. If your child wants to post pictures or videos online, be sure to at least review them yourself first.
Three, make sure your child knows that they are not allowed to meet, in person, with anyone who they meet online. This is important, as this is how many children and teenagers fall victim to internet predators and sexual predators. Yes, the person who they are talking to on the computer may be who they say they are, but are you willing to take that chance? If an in person meeting does take place and you know about it, attend with your child. Let multiple people know where you are going and who you are meeting with. Be sure to do so in a public place.
Four, set rules for your child on their use of internet chat rooms and social networking websites. For starters, if you don’t want your child to use these things, don’t let them. If you do, sit with them when they first sign up and negotiate the site yourself. Then set time limits they can be inside these rooms. For example, make sure you are in the room if your child is using an internet chat room. Five and finally, make sure that your child knows that all of the rules you set concerning internet use apply to all computer use, not just on the computer at home.
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