As technology develops, its main mission is to make our lives easier, but when it comes to parenting, the rise of the internet has made the job only more complicated.
Holly Landgren, a retired Homeland Security Agency investigator, emphasizes persistent and early training of children to develop safe online practices that will keep them safe and their parents aware of their online social interactions.
Landgren, who spoke Wednesday at Christ the King Lutheran Church Community Hall, said instilling in children as young as possible the practice of “stop, think, click.”
When children are old enough to go online, Landgren said several practices help reinforce safety and development of an ethos of caution in children when online. Some best practices when children first go online:
Keep children’s computers in high-traffic areas.Establish limits on sites they can visit.Establish consequences if they disobey limits.Monitor their use of all devices: cellphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and video games.Sit with your children and ask what they like to do online and observe them.Discuss with children what is appropriate activity online and what is not, and keep the conversation going as they age.Know everyone with whom your children communicates with online and in person.“You want to help kids make good decisions online. You want them to know what’s appropriate and inappropriate,” she said.
Landgren said establishing the conversation of online safety early in a child’s life makes it easier to have conversations about difficult topics as they age.
Children, she said, must be aware that anything they post online can be used by strangers – any photograph can be picked up and used.
“They must be aware that once they post something, it’s beyond their control how it will be used,” she said.
Children also must learn that they always have “the right to say no” to anyone online. Not only does this help them avoid being victimized by identity thieves and sexual predators, she said, it aids when groups of their peers use the force of peer pressure to cyberbully someone who is less popular.
parmijo@durangherald.com
