3 Tips for Speaking to Kids About Internet Safety

OurPact Application

1) Talk Internet SafetyMake an Internet Safety talk an essential, ongoing part of the dialogue that you have with your child. Suggest there may be some accounts worth keeping private, as password sharing has become a common practice among kids. Explain the importance of privacy and protecting your personal identity online, and let your kids know that if they ever encounter anything online that makes them uncomfortable, that they should come to you to talk about it.

2) Set Boundaries

It’s crucial for parents to keep their children interested and engaged with the real world. Kids who are limited on their use of screens tend to have higher attention spans, live healthier lifestyles and are more empathetic to other children and adults they meet.

Download an application like OurPact, which will help you monitor your child’s Internet time and block or permit screen time remotely. OurPact lets you take action without having to physically take away their mobile device, and allows you to set daily ‘screen time allowances’ in advance.

3) Getting SocialRemember that times have changed, and the way kids socialize today is very different. Make an effort to help your kids find ways to integrate the online social life they’ve built with the real world, you can help them foster lifelong friendships. Offer to take them to museums and parks, encourage them to play outside, or allow them to choose a new sport or activity and then have them signed up for an after-school program. It may adjust their perspectives.