5 Tips for Helping Your Child Stay Safe Online

The internet can be a wonderful place. It’s full of information about any topic you can dream of, which is great for students who are looking to learn. Users can connect with family and friends and meet new people from anywhere in the world. This does come with downsides because, unfortunately, not everyone on the internet has good intentions. This can be difficult for children to comprehend if they don’t know the risks. Here’s how you can help your child safely navigate the internet. 

Keep Your Child Informed 

If you have open communication with your child, they’ll be comfortable coming to you when something bad happens. The first step to keeping your child safe is to inform her of potential dangers. Remind your child that not everyone online is who they say they are. Let her know that nothing posted online is private, and everything is permanent. Set firm guidelines for internet use. See if you can agree on an appropriate amount of screen time and which websites and apps she’ll be using. 

Learn About Sites Your Child is Using

Talk about which websites your child will be using and for what purpose. This may help your child avoid mindless scrolling and stumbling onto inappropriate content. Keep the computer in the center of the house so you can monitor his activity. When he’s done using the computer, check out his search history. Research the websites to make sure they’re appropriate for children. If you have a younger child, consider using parental controls to block certain sites and search terms.

Discuss the Importance of Privacy

You spent the first few years of your child’s life teaching him that sharing is caring. Now it’s time for her to learn that some things don’t need to be shared, like personal information and passwords. Encourage your child to use screen names that don’t include her real name. Discourage her from sending photos online, especially to strangers. Even apps that seem harmless are often pulling personal data that gets turned around and sold to the highest bidder. 

Talk About Cyberbullying

Your child needs to know that bullying is not OK, whether it’s in person or online. The internet makes bullying all the more pervasive because it’s always present; it doesn’t go away when your child comes home from school. Any child who communicates with others online can struggle with this, but it’s especially important for children 13 and older who may be using social media. 

To see how your child is behaving online, follow or friend his social media profiles or check out his browser history. If you see him using bad language or being mean to other kids, talk about it offline. Let your child know that you’re there for him if he is being bullied online. If you see signs of cyberbullying, like withdrawn behavior or low self-esteem, encourage your child to talk about his or her feelings and experiences. 

Know About Online Threats

There’s a lot that can happen to an unsuspecting person online, especially a child who is new to the platform. Aside from cyberbullying, which is a major issue among children, there are many other threats lurking online, such as human trafficking. Online human trafficking is a growing problem, especially for teens. Make sure your child knows how important it is to say no, remove himself from uncomfortable situations and let a parent or teacher know when something doesn’t feel right. Children can also end up getting scammed. Avoid handing your child a credit card to buy items online, offering to buy the items yourself instead to avoid credit card fraud. 

Find Helpful Resources Online

Here are a few resources with a wealth of information and interactive resources geared toward internet safety:

• NetSmartz Kids is a kid-friendly interactive website where children can learn about online safety.

• StaySafeOnline.org has materials that can help you and your child stay safe online.

• OnGuardOnline was created by the FTC to help educate children, teens and parents about internet safety. 

Staying safe online is important for people of all ages, and that’s an important lesson for children to learn. Our Brevard private schools are more than educational institutions; each school is its own Christ-centered community where care and concern for others is daily practice. We encourage students to become involved and serve those in need. Students learn to be creative and critical thinkers who integrate faith, moral leadership, and compassionate service to make a better world. Through a low student-teacher ratio, classroom technology, and a variety of enrichment activities, we strive to inspire excellence in our students. Contact us at Brevard County Catholic Schools to learn more!