The Internet is a great place to speak with friends, shop, play games, and learn new things. These days children are also exposed to the Internet along with adults. It is now a significant part of schooling and extracurricular activities.
Hence, children are more at risk of getting into online dangers since they won't often consider their actions' consequences.
So, it becomes the parent's responsibility to protect their children from the dangers. But many parents find it challenging to communicate internet safety with their children because theirs is the first generation of parenting in the digital era.
Is it relatable enough for you? If yes, you're on the right page. This article mentions some tried and tested ways to help parents communicate about internet safety to their children. So, what's the wait for? Let's read on!
Encourage Them to Share If they Encounter any problem
It is a fact that there are several internet dangers that everyone is prone to. Hence, there are high odds that your child might encounter a problem. Oftentimes, children can be dragged into scandals by strangers on the Internet.
According to professional sex crime attorneys, many children face false sexual accusations because they become prey to online traps. The sex crime defense attorneys use tactics to prove the victim's innocence. However, it has been seen that such incidents have a drastic impact on children.
Some show behavioral changes, while others get suicidal thoughts. Therefore, you must let your kids know that no matter what happens, they can always come to you for help. You can share the incidents with them and assure them that if they were in such a situation, you would be happy to help.
Teach them About Being Respectful Online
The Internet opens up multiple horizons for kids. It has changed the social setup for children and adults. Like earlier, children went out to meet their friends; it now happens online. Children use social networking sites and chat rooms to communicate with their friends.
Many video games also offer personal chatting features where strangers communicate with each other. Therefore, you must tell them about being friendly and respectful to everyone. It will make the Internet an excellent place for everyone.
Be Suspicious About the Information They Receive
Most people today rely on the Internet to receive information. It ranges from academic help to getting news about world affairs. So, children also use this platform to update their knowledge. However, you should teach them that not everything they see and read on the Internet is true. So, they should not grab all of it.
Moreover, if they find any attractive ads that ask them to click a specific link or provide personal information, they must pass those. Various internet scams are going on; thus, make your children aware of them. You must tell them to follow their instinct. It probably is if they feel some information is too good to be true. So, they must step back.
Set a Few Ground Rules
These days kids have their mobile phones or tablets, given their academic needs. However, it also means they will invest their time playing online games and indulging in social networking sites. Therefore, it is essential that you set some ground rules for them.
These include abiding screen time for too long. They should responsibly use their phone and carve out time to complete their homework. Likewise, their schedule should have time for physical games. In addition, all the family members should make it a point to spend quality time together at the dinner table. Nobody should be allowed to use their mobile phones.
Be Aware of Strangers
As mentioned above, many gaming platforms and social networking sites open the gates for kids to engage with strangers. Thus, you must let your kids know that people on the Internet are not likely what they portray to be.
In simple words, cybercriminals target vulnerable audiences such as kids and adults. They then collect personal information and later use it for minting money. This practice is known as Phishing. So, you must be aware of them not giving out personal details. In addition, they should use only reliable gaming platforms. Likewise, you can also install internet security to ensure their safety online.
Consider a Child-safe Mobile Network
Using a fully monitored and controlled service, such as ParentShield, allows the parent to tailor their child’s mobile service to the age or ability of the user – all remotely, from the ParentShield portal.
Bottom Line
You can begin by starting a normal conversation about how the Internet offers both good and bad to its audience. Gradually, start mentioning different dangers that people face. But always make sure that you use comforting language. They must know that regardless of the situation, you'll be standing rock solid with them if they're ever stuck in a problem.
