How To Help Your Kids Stay Safe Online
My kids have spent a LOT of time online over the last couple of years—so I wanted to make sure they can tell the difference between a safe online friend and an unsafe one. I started by letting them know what red flags to look for, so they can more easily recognize the signs of grooming if/when they see them happening. Some grooming red flags include:
🚩 Asking for personal info, like their address or what school they go to;
🚩 Giving lots of compliments right away, especially inappropriate ones;
🚩 Offering them gifts;
🚩 Asking to move the conversation to a private chat;
🚩 Asking for photos or videos;
🚩 Making threats.
Safe online friends respect our boundaries and never make us feel scared or uncomfortable. Click the button for some specific things you can say to teach your kids how to tell the difference between safe and unsafe people online! 👇🏽
With so many kids spending lots of time online these days, it’s important to teach them how to tell the difference between a safe online friend and an unsafe one. With this simple script, you can help kids identify safe online relationships, and teach them when and how to cut things off when needed!
All the best,
Nani
If you’re still feeling worried about your kid going online, watch our video to see a demonstration of how to get through this tough conversation with your kid!
Watch the video→
About Us:
Mckenna Saady is the Staff Writer at Parents Together. At ParentsTogether, our mission is to provide the news families need. We cover the latest research, policies, and trends affecting kids and families so that busy parents have the information they need to help their families thrive.
We believe that parents can be an unstoppable force for good. We show up for parents with inspiring and actionable journalism, so parents can show up for their families and communities.
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Photo credits: Pexels: Cottonbro - Insta @cottonbro, Tima Miroshnichenko - Insta @tima_miroshnichenko