Your child’s online safety is your responsibility. Do you know how to keep your kids CyberSafe? It is a difficult task that parents much be diligent about, teaching kids at an early age about not sharing personal information, about cyber bullying, and how to be CyberSafe.
There is an online initiative called Cyber Safe by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America that is designed to teach you how to keep your kids CyberSafe on social networking sites and texting.
I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for BGCA. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.
Many of us think our kids are safe online but when was the last time you talked to them about making sure they think about the long-term impact of things they post?
When was the last time you checked your child’s phone?
Can you keep up with your child’s online cyber behavior?
If you aren’t sure you are doing enough, take this Cyber Smart Parent Quiz to see how you measure up.
The BGCA’s Cyber Safe Futures Initiative is an excellent resource to help you learn how to keep your kids CyberSafe. Kids are tech savvy; as parents, we need to be on top of our kids’ online networks in order to keep them safe. We need to educate ourselves on how we can keep our children safe. It is our responsibility. Saying “I didn’t know” won’t cut it.
You can watch clever Cyber Survivor clips like this one and see how you measure up against this mom and dad when it comes to talking with their kids about posting something they might regret later on.
I really like the tips that the BGCA CyberSafe site gives parents. They are practical tips that can easily be incorporated into your daily life. For instance, check your child’s profile, follow them socially, and Google their name often to make sure your child’s online presence is something you are comfortable with. Talk with your child about who they ‘friend’ online and the importance of not sharing personal information.
There are even discussion cards that you can print about online safety for further discussion with your child and family.
Beyond the BGCA CyberSafe website, there are additional resources available to further familiarize yourself on how to keep your child safe online.
Can’t find answers to questions you have about online safety for children? Submit your own question for a chance to win an iPad mini and $500 to the Boys & Girls Club of your choice! Each week, the CyberTribe will highlight Internet Safety Awareness questions in partnership with Sprint. Your question may be answered by one of the expert teens from the CyberTribe!
