Protect your Child from Predators on Internet
Internet Security
Children are the most important part of any family. Without children there is no real family as such, so they are precious and we as parents need to maintain their safety in all aspects. To protect your child from predators on internet is not always easy. Children like to have their own little secrets that they will only share with their friends. Sometimes to them, their parents do not understand how things work. All parents are so old fashioned; they are not cool anymore as they are too old.
Now isn’t that a horrible feeling. You know you are not as old as they think. Yet even their language at times is of another country. So if this is truly the case, how can we possibly help our children? They forget that we have been there and done that and we know the little quirk of hiding things from the Mums and Dads.
Be honest. How many times did you tell your mother or father that you were going to Tim’s for a sleepover. When in actual fact you were somewhere completely different. No I was too shy to do that, although I saw it happen with my own children and their friends and it really annoyed me how they could lie to their parents. In all honesty, I told the mother, I am sorry, but I did not see your daughter here last night at my son’s birthday party. I will not tell you there response, although you can imagine their reply, I think.
If children cannot be honest with their parents in real time, what hope have we of controlling their internet connections and friends?
Security on the Internet
The internet can be terrific although the predators have made it very scary too and Children or teenagers to this day still do not accept the fact that parents really care what happens to their children and are just trying to warn them of the dangers. No matter what you say to them, they think that you want to spoil their fun. They cannot see the danger lurking behind the friendly faces on their computer screens. So often these faces are not of the person behind the screen either. They believe they are their friends and this is more so for the loner or shy type of teenager.
I used to say to my kids, that when we do not want to know where they are that they need to worry. In plain English that is when they know that we do not care. While we are repeatedly asking where they are going and who with, it means that we truly DO CARE about their welfare.
What prompted this article is a tragic circumstance that happened in Australia this week. A young girl met up with a guy she had met on Facebook. No one knows the circumstances, except to say they found her murdered the next day.
This is why EVERY parent needs to be vigilant with their children and their activities on the internet. Do not play the nice parent that just does not cut it. If you truly care about your children, then keep a vigilant eye on the people they talk to on the internet. The people they are friends with as well.
I know about the privacy act, and agree with it to a certain extent. BUT in real life, our children are our responsibility not the governments even though they think they can control everyone. They do not understand each and every circumstance and problems in every different family. Different circumstances need different actions.
I believe in the saying you can watch a thief, but you can never ever trust a liar. A child can look you in the face and lie through their teeth without batting an eyelid.
Avast security
Bedroom computers
Get rid of the computers in the bedrooms. Yes I know that will be hard. Bring the family back together. Discourage the teenagers disappearing off to their bedrooms to their own computers to do their so called homework. Put the computers back in to the family room. Believe it or not, children can still work on homework in a larger environment. How else do classrooms work, they are filled with students, and therefore where is the difference. They just want privacy, and that is where it all starts, deceit and secrets.
Encourage Trust
Encourage your children to bring their friends home. Open your home to your children and their friends. Be there for them, talk to them as though they are an adult. Try not to talk down to your child, as you will lose their respect very quickly.
Try to keep calm, count to ten when your youngster answers you back. Do not start world war three. If you do not react and yell back there is no argument. It takes two people to keep an argument going. They will get bored if you do not react with whatever they are trying to get a rise out of you. Wait until you cool down and talk it out together logically. Try to see the funny side of things and keep it light.
Have your family meal at the kitchen table. No more taking meals off to separate bedrooms anymore. Encourage a family environment for your family. Talk to each other and share your concerns, and ask them if they have any problems. Create an enjoyable environment at the table, share jokes, funny situations and keep it light. Above all be a happy secure and loving family
© 2010 Eileen Hughes