The internet opens up a world of possibilities for kids, but not all of them are good. It is both a boon and bane for the little ones. As the kids use it as a wonderful educational tool to learn, research, and play, there are so many perils and pitfalls as well that can affect children. Thus, it is imperative for you, the parents, to be aware of the basic steps you must take to ensure your kids remain safe in the online world. And for that, it is very much important that you know what your kids see and hear online so that you can safeguard them from falling prey to online predators.
However, if you see, there are myriad ways in which children fall into the pitfalls of internet usage. The online world is prone to online predators, cyberbullies, phishing scammers, harmful content, and malicious software infections or attacks. So, what should be done to keep the kids safe? Well, we, at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, ranked among the top CBSE schools in Gurgaon, have some suggestions for you in this regard that will come to your aid in ensuring your kids’ safety online.
Use technology for protection
Though you might think that your child is too young to fall for the bad side of the internet, it is always wise to have a proactive approach. After all, you can’t wait for the kids to fall into the trap! It is hence always advisable to keep a check on whether the system the kids use has up-to-date software and antivirus programs with privacy settings enabled. Parental control tools are a great way for parents to help in protecting children by enabling safe search in privacy settings and monitoring app use on smartphones. Limit camera and video features as well to prevent your kids from taking photos of others and themselves.
Talk to your child about internet hazards
As a parent, you have to talk to your child and create awareness about the internet. Instead of just saying no to internet access, point out why they are not allowed to use certain kinds of sites and what they should do if they encounter strangers. Teach them about the do’s and don’ts of the online world so that they know how to protect themselves even when you are not around. This will help them become internet aware and stay away from unwanted troubles online.
Let them learn and express
Spending time with your kids is an excellent opportunity to share their interests and opinions about their internet use. Assist them and help them learn about the internet when and where needed. Let them know that while kid-friendly videos and educational contents are good to be used, they must always stay away from clicking any pop-ups or links. Make them aware of child-friendly search engines like Kiddle, or content providers like ABC Kids, YouTube Kids, etc. Teach them to strike the right balance between being online for recreation and education.
Lead by example
Lead by example and always be a model of positive online behavior that you want your kids to reflect. They will be more likely to learn from you what you do than what you say. If they see you being safe and respectable when you’re online, they’ll be more likely to follow in your footsteps. Yes, this means limiting your own screen time and being more cautious of your own internet habits, but we are certain you wouldn’t want to take any risk when it comes to your kids!
In a nutshell…
We, at DPSSL, one of the top CBSE schools in Gurgaon, we firmly believe that in today’s day and age, where the internet has assumed an important place in our lives, it is neither possible nor wise to keep the kids away from the online world. After all, it won’t be fair on your part to prevent your kids from taking advantage of the internet’s many educational, entertainment, social sites, and other benefits of using the internet. Instead, a better way out is to give them the skills and knowledge to keep away from all the possible dangers that the online world brings with it. With your robust support and our step-by-step guidance, we are sure our kids will learn to benefit from the positives of the online world while keeping the negatives at the bay.