Chatting with your kids About online safety
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk Begin early -- - take those everyday situations to begin a conversation.
Start the conversation Create a ‘space’ for open, honest conversation. Don’t wait for your kids to start the conversation... Take the lead!
Communicate your values. Do your kids know your values? Make sure what you ‘do’ everyday reflects your values... Your kids are always watching.
Be Patient It’s not a ‘one time’ conversation. We need to hear important things over and over again... Keep talking....and keep listening...
Young Kids Supervise use Choose their websites Restrict / filter websites
Tweens ages 8 – 12 Keep the computer in ‘public’ space in your home. Be nearby when they are online. Consider parental controls. Set limits for online time.
Teens Set the expectation that online time is not ‘private’. Emphasize the concept of credibility and the permanence of what is posted online. You can’t take it back. Continue the conversation of your values... There are real people behind screen names. Set reasonable expectations and rules