Better Digital Parenting 2024 CyberSafeKids - Manual / Resource - Page 3
B e tte r D i g i t al Paren ting
C y b e r Sa fe K i d s
What is ‘Digital Parenting’?
Whether we like it or not, it’s a reality
of modern parenting that children are
often referred to misleadingly as ‘digital
natives’. While that may be true, being
born into a digital age does not mean
they are inherently born with the skills to
function safely and effectively within it.
Many of us were born into the age of the
automobile, but we still had to learn how
to drive, right?! Approaching children’s
online lives with the same care, attention
and supervision that we apply to their
offline lives is vital: always remember
that when you give your child access to
the online world, you are also giving the
online world access to your child.
As children mature, they will inevitably
want more privacy but it’s essential
to continue to regularly monitor and
supervise their online activity in an
atmosphere of trust and transparency,
including checking devices and apps for
inappropriate content and contacts.
While challenges or harms in the online
world vary from age to age, ongoing
dialogue and discussion around the
online world is essential regardless of age.
Discussing online life as a normal part of
everyday conversations is the only way to
keep your children safe and ensure their
experiences online are as positive as they
can be. With that in mind, let’s dive in…
Very young children should never access
the internet alone: they should be
supervised at all times. It can be easy to
access inappropriate content without
intending to.
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