TECHNOLOGY IS A BIG PART OF OUR LIVES, BUT ARE YOU PRACTICING ONLINE SAFETY WITH YOUR TODDLER? IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START THE CONVERSATION, AND WITH THESE TIPS, TEACH YOUR CHILD HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY IN A SAFE, POSITIVE WAY.

Most parents are aware of the dangers on the internet and practice some form of online safety with their children. But there are many further steps to take, even with your toddler, that can ensure online safety for years to come.

Internet Awesome

Google has created an online source for families to use as an education resource for their children. The Family Guide is an in-depth guide for parents to teach their kids how to use the internet safely. It even has an interactive game kids can play and learn about internet safety.

The program covers things like:

What if she sees something inappropriate online?
What if she sees a pop-up that promises to give her a million dollars for clicking a link?
What if a stranger starts chatting with her in an online gaming chat room?
What if someone from school starts bullying her via text message?
Does she know what she should and shouldn’t share online?

This program is a great way to start conversation with your child and get them asking questions about the internet to better understand its purpose.

Monitor Platform Access

Limiting the things your child is able to watch is very important for any family. Even if you are using YouTube Kids, there are ways that people can sneak in inappropriate videos that will eventually come across your child’s stations. The best way to know what content your child has access to is by subscribing to channels that are reputably child-appropriate and only allowing access to those channels.

For other outlets, here is a great infographic made by Code9Parent.com

Teach Your Kids To Speak Up

Even with all the security precautions, it still is very possible for your child to come across inappropriate content online. Encourage them to come to you when this happens so you can handle the situation correctly. It may be a good learning opportunity for them!

Having open dialogue about how the internet is used is important to developing your child’s interactions online. As they get older, more and more technology will enter their lives, so it’s never too early to start getting them familiar with things now and teaching them online safety.