When your child is ready to start using the internet there can be a number of concerns you might have, but with the right preparations and guidance you can make your child’s experience fun and uneventful.
Here are some top tips to teach your child into using the internet safely and securely, from this nursery in Chiswick.
Set parameters before your child begins to use the internet
All internet providers have settings to protect children from the most common threats the internet poses. Have these set up and ready before your child begins to browse the internet so that they’re protected from any nasty or inappropriate content appearing.
Sit with your child the first time they use the internet
It doesn’t have to be for the whole time that they use it, as it can be a bit nerve-wracking for them, but help them through the process and ask where they’re going to be using the internet for will reassure you that your child will be fine navigating the sites they want to use.
Teach your children what not to do online
Show what happens to children if they share personal information like addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and other sensitive data that people online can use. You can show them what happens if they do share that information and how it can be damaging.
Encourage your child to ask questions
If they see something that doesn’t look right online, they should be able to come to you to make sure it’s safe for them to proceed. Give them pointers of places where they might need you to come and help them out, like a pop up ad or links they’re not sure if they should proceed or not. Having that trust in them will make them better internet users and know how to identify risks.
This is a collaborative post.