The Internet is a fascinating place full of knowledge, whether it is from videos, articles, or websites. It is, unfortunately, also a place of hidden dangers and secrets. Over this and our next post, we are going to talk about the hazards that lie out there and what we can do to ensure our children are staying safe while they are searching for what will satisfy their curiosity.
In our recent posts, we talked about screen time and how important it can be to monitor how much time our children spend on their phones, iPads, the computer or watching TV. We also touched on the importance of unplugging as a way to build stronger relationships with our children and create a better reading life.
While we should encourage our children to spend more time with physical books, instead of electronic ones, it is also important to acknowledge the amazing ways that technology can help us encourage our children to learn more about the world around them. A quick Google search can bring up almost anything our children might want to learn about! Wikipedia has thousands of articles on topics from celebrities to algae to the origin of the proverb “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” They can research any number of topics, but they can also utilize their internet resources for school projects. During this time of quarantine, Zoom classes, and online learning it is especially important to be aware of the potential hazards of exploring the web.
Just like talking to our children about how to be safe out in the physical world, it is important to talk to them about internet safety! Cyberbullying, phishing scams, and inappropriate content are a few of the myriad of risks children can be in when accessing the web. Be up front about “netiquette” as a way to combat bullying online. Talk to older children about the risks involved in meeting online people offline, what is and is not appropriate to post, and what is and is not “risky behavior.”
Internet safety starts with awareness. The Hamilton County Child Exploitation Task Force in Indiana has put out a great brochure with excellent tips. These tips include setting up agreements with your children about their computer usage, be it the amount of time spent, what they are accessing, who they are talking to, etc.; do not rely solely on software to block or filter content, and when on social media only add people that you know. Social media, in particular, should be monitored. While it is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, it can also be a great way to accidentally expose oneself to hacking or phishing scams.
By creating a foundation of awareness, we can then move forward in teaching our children how to use the internet for learning!
Next Week…
Next week, we will look at safe searching practices so that we can encourage our children in learning while keeping them safe online! I look forward to reading your comments and learning more about how you protect your children online!
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