Ten tips to help keep children safe online
Deborah Dzifah Tamakloe-Choro
Championing Child Welfare| MSW (In-view)| Care Leader| Author| Award Winning Humanitarian
As a parent or caregiver, ensuring your children stay safe online is essential. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:
1. Encourage open communication with your children about their online experiences. Please make sure they feel comfortable sharing concerns or uncomfortable encounters without judgment.
2. Educate your children about privacy and safeguarding personal information. Instruct them to be cautious about sharing details like location, school, or contact information online.
3. Set clear boundaries on screen time and appropriate online activities. Use parental controls and device privacy settings to restrict access to age-appropriate content.
4. Stay informed about the apps, games, and platforms your child uses. Regularly review and update privacy settings on social media accounts.
5. Teach your children critical thinking skills to help them differentiate between reliable and potentially harmful information online.
6. Promote kindness and respect by emphasizing the importance of treating others online courteously. Could you talk about the impact of cyberbullying and how to respond if they encounter such situations?
7. Supervise your child's online interactions by watching their friends and connections. Please encourage them to communicate with friends they know in real life and report any suspicious behavior.
8. Create a safe online space by choosing kid-friendly websites and apps prioritizing safety. Explore online platforms explicitly designed for children with age-appropriate content.
9. Be a digital role model by demonstrating responsible online behavior. Model healthy screen habits and show the importance of balance between online and offline activities.
10. Stay engaged in your child's online world by actively participating with them. Play online games together, explore apps, and share positive experiences.
Remember, being intentional about your child's online safety is crucial in today's digital age. Use these tips to ensure that your children stay safe and secure online. #beintentional #onlinesafety