Internet
safety is an extremely important subject matter and one that shouldn’t go amiss
when it comes to teaching your children how to correctly use technology. Of
course, we can’t deny that the internet has many benefits, but it can also be
very dangerous, particularly for vulnerable children. Read on for some advice
from a senior school in the Cotswolds
on how to teach your child to safely use the internet.
Start by
explaining to your child what kinds of dangers are lurking within the internet,
from scammers and hackers to cyberbullies and even paedophiles. Of course, how
much information you disclose will depend on the age of your child, but if you
don’t instil some level of fear in them then they probably won’t take you
seriously. Once your child is aware of some of the risks of the internet, then
they will understand why the can or can’t do certain things, like share
personal information (e.g. name and address) or send inappropriate photos.
Explain to
your child that they should always think before they post something online.
Tell them to ask themselves whether or not what they’re sharing will hurt
someone’s feelings, embarrass them or get them into trouble if an adult saw it.
Let them know that once something has been shared, it can never truly be
deleted, especially as people can so easily take a screen shot. With that said,
your child needs to be very careful with what they’re sharing.
Let your
child know that they can talk to you about anything that might be bothering
them, in both the real world and online. For instance, they should inform you
if they see someone being mean on social media. An open and honest family
environment will reduce the likelihood that your child will keep secrets from
you. Show your child how to block people and advise them against starting up
relationships with people online, as anyone can pretend to be someone else when
they’re hiding behind a screen.
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