5 Online Safety Tips for Kids

Are you really aware who your child might be talking to online? Are your children aware of the hidden dangers that really do exist online? 

Computer Safety Rules

Do you know the rules for internet safety?  Because predators have more access to vulnerable children today on the internet, it is of utmost importance that you and your child are educated to some of the lures and tactics that a predator might use online.

1. Parent Permission

Children and teenagers might think they are not babies. Why should they get permission before posting a picture of themselves online? According to the National Children's Advocacy Center you should check with your parents. They further add not to post explicit pictures of yourself. Children need to understand that once the picture is on the internet, it is not as easy to get it taken off, and that same picture has the potential to be seen by thousand of others. When pictures are in the wrong hands, this can prove quite embarrassing and humiliating.

StarShine Workshops

2. 12 or 50 years-old

It is important that children understand the 12-year-old that they think they are talking to online may not be 12 but actually a much older man according to FBI.gov. That is the strange thing about the internet, you cannot see the other person and even if the other person sent you a picture, you cannot know that that is a true picture of that person. Many predators hide and lurk online.

Safe Web Surfing:

3. Teaching

Did you know that your child can possibly teach you a few things on the computer? I am amazed at some of the things children already know. I am amazed how they can figure some things out on the computer. Have fun on the computer and allow your child to show you things they know, show you sites they want to visit, and even play a few online games with them. This can be a teachable moment for you.

Kid2Kid Keepin It Safe Online

4. Computer Locaion

Keeping the computer in a common area as oppose to the bedroom is suggested by Steven Dowshen, MD. This can be monitored in a common area. They further suggest sharing an email account so that messages can be monitored.

5. Internet Safety Workshops

Hanover County schools have started a seven-part workshop to help parents protect their children in the digital age. They emphasize about sub-tweeting, which is talking about another online without using that person's twitter handle or in other words talking behind their back online. When parents become knowledgeable about this they can better help their children with conflict. It is good to be digitally savvy. One parent said they joined Instagram in order to monitor one of their children. I am sure that there will be more workshops evolving in the schools. I believe this is a very good idea.

Source:

Internet Safety Tips for Kids and Teens

http://www.nationalcac.org/prevention/internet-safety-kids.html

Internet Safety, by Steven Dowshen, MD

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html#

Hanover sets internet safetyworkshops

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/hanover-sets-internet-safety-workshops/article_33ebbaed-061d-5699-8391-afc3e2fe5e84.html

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http://anointedtoday.blogspot.com/2014/09/cool-gadgets-for-your-children.html

http://anointedtoday.blogspot.com/2014/04/parent-child-dates.html

http://anointedtoday.blogspot.com/2014/03/should-schools-and-churches-have-nut.html

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