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Tips for Online Safety for Parents
- Remember that kid’s tech-savvy skills usually exceed their social maturity and their ability to deal with situations they can easily confront online. They need lots of guidance and structure concerning online activities.
- Talk to your kids about how they present themselves online – in the pictures and videos that they post and in the content of what they say. Many kids feel less inhibited with their online behavior, even though it is very public. They may feel comfortable posting inappropriate “status updates” (which could include anything from where they are getting ready to go to meet their friends to how they feel about their teacher). Just as you discuss your expectations for their behavior in public, you should also discuss your expectations for their behavior on the world wide web. Ask your children to share the content of their digital camera with you. Remember, most digital cameras also have video ability. Keep the computer in an open area of the house (family room/kitchen/living room).
- If you allow your kids to be on Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, or other social networking sites, don’t let your kids “friend” or establish internet relationships with people they do not know in person. Ask them to show you their Facebook or Myspace page. Do this often. If you are a member of one of these sites yourself, consider “friending” them.
- Check up on your child’s internet friends just as you would with their real friends.
- Share information about internet use with other parents.
- Keep track of where your kids go online. Watch them when they are on the computer and/or look into the “history” section on your internet browser.
- Make sure your kids don’t put any contact info online. This includes home address, last name, phone number, email address, school name, school address, sports teams, screen names, etc.
- Keep your kids out of chat-rooms, especially unmonitored chat-rooms.
- Tell your kids to come to you if they see anything online that makes they feel uncomfortable.
- Remember that it’s important to not only share the “don’ts” but also to talk with your kids about the “dos”. Be sure to give your kids advice about how to deal with situations that arise when they are online. For some suggestions, please see our section on the Eagle’s Nest website at http://www.enf.org/kids.
Sources:
Dated: 10/5/2009
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