Staying Safe Online: 3 Good Digital Habits to Build
#1 Always Be S.M.A.R.T
- Safe – Giving out personal information like our address, phone number, date of birth or passwords without having parental/guardian permission first is not smart.
- Meet – Meeting someone you only know from online is not smart, and you should never agree to do it without parent/guardian’s permission.
- Accept – Clicking on messages, emails, texts, pictures etc from people we don’t know or trust is not smart. It can open us up to problems like viruses and unwanted/nasty messages.
- Reliable – We need to understand that not everything out there is true, or reliable – checking information before you believe it is now a vital skill. It helps to talk about what we’re reading/finding online with an adult.
- Tell – Our children need to know that they can tell us, or another trusted adult when something happens online that makes us feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
#2 Always THINK B4 U POST, CHAT or UPLOAD
- T – is it True?
- H – is it Helpful?
- I – is it Inspiring?
- N – is it Necessary?
- K – is it Kind?
And if it’s not, then don’t post it, chat it or upload it!
#3 Always Be A Good Digital Citizen
Not just sometimes, not just some days, not just online but offline too! This is the foundation of being safe, kind, and smart. How we behave online is no different to how we behave offline. How we treat others online is no different to the expectation of how to treat others face to face. If you wouldn’t want your grandma to see it, then don’t share it with the rest of the world. This is the best habit your child(ren) could ever have.
One More Important Thing
Regular, honest and open conversations with our kids are so important. Habits aren’t made overnight and mistakes are going to happen. Having those difficult conversations that as parents we sometimes don’t like to do, must be had. Talking openly and honestly about our worries and our expectations really does help. Having something like a Family Media Agreement – which believe it or not starts with a conversation – can help too.If you’re not sure where to start or what to include in a family media agreement, sign up to Eduro Learning’s Parent Mailing List by clicking the button below and get this FREE digital download:
Managing Devices at Home: Conversation Starters + Family Media Agreements
It’s the perfect resource for you!
