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| image credit:nobullying.com |
Technology and the internet are obviously a reflection of Society, where both good and evil activities take place. Despite its vast benefits, it also has its own set of risks, so it is important for parents to, keep an eye on their children’s virtual world and digital foot print the same way they do in real life. Understanding how to use these gadgets safely, will present you the opportunity to teach your wards the technical skills that will enable them to get the most out of it, without unnecessary anxiety on your part.
When it comes to internet use, perhaps the biggest concern for children is, the prevalence of Internet child predators and cyberbullies. These people are often at places intended for children and often have an in-depth knowledge on the latest hobbies, interests, and music that are popular amongst children. This normally causes children to let their guard down and give away sensitive information, access sites with inappropriate material or even agree to meet up with strangers.
The reality is that while technology has advanced rapidly, this generation’s parenting skills have not kept pace. Parents may not be the fault, but it is certainly the parent’s problem. Many tend to consider these problems (cyber bullying, sexting, etc) as technological problems, but in reality, these are parenting problems.
Below, are few tips to help address the issue and how to incorporate technology into our everyday parenting. These tips can also be found on the website of Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an NGO for Online safety.
Talk with your kids
It sounds simple, but the number one indicator of good digital parenting is
keeping an open line of communication going with your kids. Talk early
and often. It is not like the birds and the bees discussion. It is
more like an ongoing dialogue that will move and shift as your child works
their way through several key developmental stages. Stay calm. Be
open and direct. But keep talking.
Educate yourself
This is probably the first technology in human history where the kids are
leading the adults. It is very humbling to have a 7 year old explain how
to upload a video. Or your teen rolling his eyes once again as you try to
master Pandora. But there is a wealth of tips, videos, explanations and
guides out there. If in doubt, simply type in your question or concern in
your favourite search engine and there will be more than enough information to
go on.
Use parental controls
It goes without saying that there is content on the Internet you don’t want
your kids stumbling upon. All of the major operating systems, search
engines, cell phone providers and gaming platforms provide either free or
inexpensive parental controls to help you manage your kid’s online
experience. And, as your kids get older, move from controls to monitoring
tools, particularly around time limits to discourage texting in class or
vamping late at night.
Set ground rules & apply sanctions
Many parents don’t know where to start in creating rules of the road for
their kids digital use. But there are many online safety contracts to
choose from as well as simple house rules such as no devices at dinner and
handing in their phones at night. Once you’ve set the rules, enforce
them. Let your kids know that they will lose online privileges if they
break the rules and be clear and consistent about what those sanctions will be.
Friend and follow, but don’t stalk
When your teen opens his/her Facebook account at 13, ensure you’re his/her
first friend. Follow your kids on Twitter and YouTube. Don’t overdo
it and leave daily comments, but don’t under do it either. It is good to
stay close as your teen makes his first forays into the world of social
media. But don’t be tempted to spy on your kids, either. Talking
instead of stalking is what builds trust. Give your teen some space to
experiment, to take (healthy) risks and to build resiliency.
Explore, share and celebrate
With the rules and tools in place, don’t forget to just go online with your
kids. Play games, watch videos, share photos and generally hang out with your
children online. Learn from them and have fun. Share your
favourite sites and download their apps. See the world through their
eyes. And let them know your values and beliefs as you guide them on
their way.
Be a good digital role model
Be the change you want to see in your kids. Resist the temptation to pull out your phone to check your email over dinner or send a quick text while driving. Keep an eye on your own digital habits and compulsions and model good digital behaviour and balance. Your kids will pay far more attention to what you do, than to what you say – both online and offline.
