Internet usage must be promoted as children are increasingly using the world of digital media. With technology continually changing, it can be hard knowing how to keep your children safe and healthy online.
What you can do is help minimize the negative impact on your child, while encouraging good internet use to maximize the benefits.
Some Useful Tips to Remember
Internet not at all bad
Researches have shown that there are many benefits for young people who are going online. It can be use to connect with friends and relatives to getting piano lessons or finding some clues for your homework, as it provides a sea of opportunities for research, education and enrichment. You may now only have to find out what children are using on internet and focus on positives of the net.
An internet cannot be banned completely. This is next to impossible when access is so widely available and required too. It is likely to be counter-productive, encourage to be secretive rather than open use. It will be denying factor, the many benefits the internet has to offer.
Be age-appropriate
All the suggestions below need to be age-adapted. Young children usually like attention from you and don’t own their device, whereas teenagers may find it intrusive and stick to their screens. Balance respecting their desire for privacy. You can do this by to let them understand you’re present there in every step and they can talk to them anytime. With younger children, use devices’ with parental controls. Whatever their age, agree with any restrictions together.
Keep talking
Being open to discuss any topic or matter in an appropriate way according to their respective age, is key to help them stay safe while on internet. It helps to ensure children may come to you if they are in trouble about their online activities or what they have seen, or vice versa.
Using internet by sitting alongside child
When you are online with your child, it encourages social rather than private use and gives chance to discuss about staying safe while online. Show a respect towards the interest in what the child is doing, even if they want to use the internet.
Good sleep habits should be promoted
Encourage to turn off screens at least 1 hour before sleeptime. Phones, laptops, etc. sholu be left out of the bedroom and a separate alarm clock must be bought to wake up. Be an example to lead.
Encouraging active use
Actively involved in doing things, like responding or creating Facebook posts, will have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. Passive use such as scrolling without interacting can lower wellbeing and life satisfaction.
Break the ‘filter bubbles’
Online companies check on you through algorithms to show you things matching to what see on the net during surfing through it. The algorithm reinforces current interests rather than suggesting you new topics. You must teach your child how to interrupt these by searching for new questions of interest.
Talk to child about body image
It is sometimes difficult for children and adults to distinguish between what’s a healthy body image and what’s not. Try to normalize diversity because people come in different shapes and sizes, there isn’t one ideal body shape, and beauty comes in many various forms, not just airbrushed or filtered ‘perfection.’ If you watch a TV or online program together, you can point out unrealistic things.
Promote healthy sexual attitudes
It is difficult though to speak to your child about sex, they must not get their information from the internet because this can lead to distorted expectations. If you see something unrealistic, therefore make sure that they know it.
Look for warning signs
You must notice a change in your child’s behavior, while spending more time alone in room, or not meeting friends, or mood shift , sit and talk to them about the concerns. Make sure as a parent you know what help is out there through medical or internet or seek advice from school.
