Help Your Kids Be Safer Online

While the Internet is a positive space for many kids and teens, and an integral part of their everyday communication, it is important to teach children about online safety.

“Kids gain many benefits from the Internet; it can be an important part of their developmental exploration as they grow up,” says Alisa Simon, VP of Counselling Services and Programs at Kids Help Phone. “We encourage parents to recognize this, while still teaching their kids about online safety.”

Here are some Internet safety tips for parents from the organization:

• Talk with your child about what’s going on in their life, including online.

• Don’t try to frighten your child about the risks associated with the Internet. Instead, let them know they can come to you without fear of losing technology privileges if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

• Let your child know their instincts are their best guide. Teach them to block, ignore, or report people they encounter who do or say anything they feel uncomfortable about.

• Tell them about the many safety tools at kidshelpphone.ca, such as videos about social media privacy settings.

For kids 12 and under:

• Keep the family computer in a central location.

• Set up your child’s accounts and gaming consoles. Activate parental controls and restrictions for who can play or chat with your child. Know your child’s passwords.

For teens:

• Encourage teens to think before sharing anything online, and to ask the other people in their photos for permission before posting. Teach them that anything they post can be distributed widely in seconds and they have no control over it.

• Encourage them to think critically about who they meet online. Reinforce that not everyone is who they say they are.

• Stay aware of what your children are saying online – or ask another adult they trust, like a favorite aunt or uncle, to do so.

www.newscanada.com

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