The
Internet is a wonderful way for children to learn about the world, to be
entertained, and to communicate with friends and family. But it can also bring
risks, exposing young minds to inappropriate content and strangers who may not
always have the best intentions.
For
concerned parents, it’s no longer possible to keep our kids away from computers
and pretend the Internet doesn’t exist. Instead, we need to properly prepare
them for a digital future and coach them so they can make the right decisions.
That means understanding our children’s online activities and developing rules
and guidelines that both the parent and child can embrace.
Here
are 5 tips for providing a safe and secure environment for those first few
years online:
- Be informed. Find out what your child likes to do on the Web,
which sites he likes to visit, and which games he plays. Spend time
together online and show an interest in what he’s doing.
- Start a dialogue. Talk to your child about online safety and be
specific about your concerns. Let him know there are safe and unsafe web
sites, just as there are safe and unsafe places to go in the real world.
Talk about the importance of resisting contact with people he doesn’t
know, and immediately telling you about anything that makes him
uncomfortable.
- Protect personal information. Teach your child to respect personal information,
both his own and other people’s. Teach him never to share passwords, phone
numbers, addresses, or other personal information, and to never post
pictures or information about other people without their permission.
- Click smart. Teach your child not to open files or click on
links unless they are from a trusted source. Talk about the dangers of
malware and how viruses can harm files and the performance of the
computer.
- Install parental controls. Install a top-rated suite of parental controls to
protect your home computers and monitor your child’s use. And let your
child know that you have installed parental controls; trust is the
foundation of good decision-making
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