A few decades ago, it was normal for children to grow up without experiencing video games or the internet. However, with the turn of the 21st century, things have drastically changed.
Often hailed as the age of the internet, the 21st century has seen the rise of numerous video games and technological inventions. We now have Brighterly.com and other edtech platforms.
While this development is undoubtedly great, it does raise the question of internet security. How can parents raise tech-savvy kids and still ensure their safety online?
If you’ve been asking yourself this question, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best internet safety tips to help you raise a tech-savvy child without fear. Let’s get into it, shall we?
5 Ways Of Raising Tech-savvy Kids
1. Engage in Collaborative Digital Activities
Exposing your child to technology might seem like a very scary concept. However, in today’s world, tech is an integral part of any child’s life. They could use technology to take maths lessons online or learn new skills.
You can make sure that your kids are attracted the good parts of the digital ecosystem. In recent years, coding classes for kids has become a desirable extracurricular. This helps kids learn how to code after which they are able to create mobile applications, software, and even websites.
As such, to help them become tech-savvy while remaining safe, you can engage in digital activities together. Try watching educational videos online with them or even learning a new language through online learning platforms. You could take a step further to try other digital activities that include the whole family.
At the end of the day, your child would become familiar with using technology without falling for any internet vice.
2. Be Fully Involved
Your child asks to go to a sleepover. You make the necessary calls to find out more about his friends and their parents. Sounds pretty normal, doesn’t it?
Well, the same should be applied to your child’s online activities. When they spend time online, it’s important to find out what kind of videos they like, the games they play, and who they talk to online. This way, you can rest assured of their safety.
Pro Tip: Being ‘involved’ in your child’s online activities doesn’t necessarily mean sneaking up or spying on them. It’s essential to sit with your child and let them know that you’re going to be involved all the way. This way, they’d trust you and not feel the need to hide from you.
3. Teach Online Responsibility
Online responsibility is one of the key tenets of internet safety for kids. As a parent, it’s advisable to set parental controls and privacy settings on your kid’s devices and web browsers. However, it doesn’t just end there. You also need to educate them on basic internet safety rules.
For instance, they should know never to give out their personal information to online strangers or post them publicly. They should also know to alert you if they receive an inappropriate message or photo from online predators. Finally, teach them to be kind online and not cyberbully their peers.
The more responsible your kids are online, the less you’d have to worry about.
Related: How To Set Up A Dial-Up Internet Connection? – All You Should Know
4. Balance Screen Time
Let’s face it: screen time can be addictive. Even as adults, we tend to get glued to our phone screens for hours on end. The same goes for children who haven’t learned how to set boundaries yet. It’s essential that we regularly unplug from screens and take some time off to recharge.
As such, it’s essential to strike a balance between your child’s screen time and their interaction with the real world. You could decide to have screen-free hours or ensure that they put away their devices by a certain time of the day. With a firm, balanced routine, they’d be able to understand self-restraint and boost their social interaction skills as well.
5. Reward Their Responsibility with Further Independence
As your child gets older, they begin to crave independence in little bits. So, how do you help them become tech-savvy, stay safe on the internet, and still maintain their independence simultaneously?
To achieve this, you can reward your child’s responsible behavior online with further independence. Once they can prove that they can handle the cyber world on their own without much need for parental interference, you can then let them be.
6. Engage Them In Tech Classes
There’s so much more to technology than social media. To help your child get the most out of tech and the internet, it’s advisable to enroll them in classes that focus on coding for kids to teach them vital tech skills. Whether it’s a coding class or a Mavis Beacon-style program, the best way to teach them tech-savviness is by utilizing the unlimited learning resources at your disposal.
Final Thoughts
Watching your child navigate the murky waters of the internet can be scary for any parent. On the one hand, you want them to become tech-savvy. On the other hand, you still want to maintain your children’s internet safety. It seems impossible, doesn’t it?
However, with these practical tips, you can help your child become an internet genius and still remain safe from online predators. We hope they help.
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