Teaching Your Children to Use the Internet Safely

The majority of us use the internet every day. It allows us to instantly access information and stay connected with friends and family. However, many parents worry about their children’s safety whilst using the internet.

There are risks involved in allowing your child to go online unsupervised, or without the correct parental controls in place. It is also important to discuss online safety with your child and make them aware of the dangers of the internet. 

Here are some tips from an independent girl’s school in Surrey on teaching your kids about internet safety…

Know the dangers

Start by educating yourself about Internet safety and what dangers your children are susceptible to online. There are lots of helpful online resources that cover topics from cyberbullying to privacy settings. If you require further advice on internet safety, your child’s school may also be able to help. Talk to your child about how they are spending their time online and regularly check in to make sure everything is ok.

Online safety

How much you disclose to your child about the dangers of the internet depends on their age and maturity. Explain that talking to strangers online isn’t safe and sometimes people aren’t who they say they are. Advise your child to never accept friend requests from people they don’t know. It is also crucial to stress to children that they should never meet any strangers they have spoken to online. 

Parental controls 

It is also really important that you keep an eye on what social networks, chat rooms or games your child is using and ensure that you have the right parental controls in place. Some online games have the option to switch off the ‘chat’ function so that your children can not make contact with others.

Set rules

Establish a set of rules for your child to follow when they are online. For instance, tell your child which websites and apps are off limits and which ones they are allowed to use. They should also be aware of how long they’re allowed to use their phones or tablets for before turning them off. Other rules should include things like never responding to messages from strangers and never sharing personal information online.