With technology an ever important part of our daily lives, it is hard to manage what your kids are doing online. Here are 5 things to teach your kids about technology.
Keep Personal Information Private
This is probably the most obvious one, but I cannot stress enough just how important it is to teach your child about what personal information they give out from their address to their name. Though you can privatize a lot of their online presence, it is not enough to leave it at just that.
Your Actions Online Affect Others
Sadly, the Internet makes it all too easy to bully others online. Though you certainly don’t want your child to be bullied, it is important that your child does not become the bully either. Make sure to teach them about the proper way to act online.
Be Careful Of Who You Trust
As obvious at it may seem to you, it is not obvious to your child. Even with as many things as you can privatize, bullies and predators may still find their way into your child’s online life. Teach them to be careful when making friends online and to always let you know who they are talking to.
Obeying Age Limits
Some sites are great at giving your kid a child-friendly place to watch shows, play games, and talk to friends. However, some completely depend on your child’s honesty or carefulness. Some sites will not let your kid sign up if they are younger than 13 years old for example, however it is all too easy for your kid to lie and end up watching inappropriate things.
Even worse, sites like YouTube can make it all too easy for your kid to accidentally click on the wrong thing and end up watching a gory or offensive video without them even meaning to!
Talk to them about the importance of being honest and careful with the videos they watch. If the site doesn’t have an easy way to protect them from inappropriate things, either keep them off it or supervise their use.
To Unplug From Time To Time
One of the best lessons to share with your kids is simply the importance of ‘unplugging’. Encourage them to play outside, do arts and crafts, or any other activity that gives their eyes a break from the screen. The best way to do this is to join them in these activities or for them to join a group, class or club where they can do this with friends!
It is especially important that you and your kids learn to ‘unplug’ before bed for a better night sleep. Do I hear the sounds of a bedtime story?
What’s the best lesson you can teach your kids about using technology?
