Today I ran across a press release that gave some really good tips for parents and I thought I would pass these tips along.
Cyberbully Tips for Parents
• Keep the computer in a general family area — not in the child’s room — so that you can interact more naturally with your children about the messages they are reading or sending out to friends.
• Set rules about computer use, and consider password-protecting your computer so that your child won’t be using it when home alone.
• Tell your children they should NEVER Give out personal information without your permission when using email, visiting social networking sites, instant messaging, entering contests or filling out any other online form, nor should they ever tell anyone online they are alone.
• Tell children they should not respond to messages that are suggestive, belligerent, threatening or make them feel uncomfortable, nor should they click on any links that are contained in an email from people they do not know. Such links could lead to sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate Web sites.
• Talk to your children about cyber bullying, so they understand that although mean people on the Internet can hurt them through their words, they can be safer if they don’t respond to mean emails or messages sent to them or their friends.
Help Your Kids Crush Cyberbullying
Also advise them:
- Don’t forward emails or messages that are mean or that spread rumors.
- Don’t open emails or messages from someone they know is gossiping or saying mean things about others.
- Block messages from anyone who bullies online.
- Never arrange to meet someone who is bullying them online.
- Save or print all messages from people who bully.
- MOST IMPORTANT: Show the messages to an adult they trust — like a parent or a teacher — and ask for help.
- If the first adult they tell doesn’t help, they should keep telling until someone does.
Finally, teach your children to treat their friends with kindness and respect, just as they would like to be treated — whether on the playground, in the neighborhood or online. Encourage your children to come to you if they encounter material or messages that make them feel uncomfortable or threatened. It’s important that they know they will not be punished or forbidden from further Internet use if they become victims.
I hope you find this information helpful- put your children first and take the time to keep them safe online!
Image courtesy of chanpipat at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
