Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools March 2015 | Page 14

Internet Safety 101: How to protect your kids online

It is no mystery that technology allows kids to gain 24-hour
access to the media, but a recent study by the Kaiser Foundation
discovered the average kid spends 7.5 hours a day using
entertainment media. Through using
multiple media at one time such
as music, TV, movies, the Internet,
video games and texting, kids can
actually pack a total of 10 hours in
45 minutes.
Although these ways of
socializing and communicating can
be enriching, they do come with
certain risks. Kids can become
victims of online bullies, predators,
hackers and scammers.
“The Internet has great potential
for kids in terms of knowledge and
resources, but we take seriously
the job of teaching our youth how
to navigate it safely and properly,”
said Dan Rauzi, senior director,
technology programs at Boys & Girls
Clubs of America (BGCA).
BGCA has partnered with Sprint
to address these issues and help better prepare young people to
navigate their world -- both real and virtual. Sprint’s online resource,
www.4NetSafety.com, offers free tools from experts that address
the dangers that young people commonly encounter online and
encourages positive dialogue about Internet safety. In addition,www.
myclubmylife.com -- BGCA’s website for teens -- includes a special

12 • Mar/Apr 2015 • Parent Teacher Magazine 

Media Safety section that has more information and teen-friendly
resources to further promote Internet safety.
It’s important that your child be aware that the fundamentals -what we say, how we say it, and why we say it -- are the same online
and off.
Here are some tips for discussing
Internet safety with your family:
• Create an honest, open
environment. Kids look to their
parents to help guide them. You
may not have all the answers, and
being honest about that can go a
long way.
• Initiate conversations. Even
if your kids are comfortable
approaching you, don’t wait for
them to start the conversation. Use
everyday opportunities to talk to
your kids about being online.
• Communicate your values. Be
upfront about your values and how
they apply in an online context.
Communicating your values clearly
can help your kids make smarter
and more thoughtful decisions when they face tricky situations.
• Be patient. Most kids need to hear information repeated, in
small doses, for it to sink in. If you keep talking with your kids, your
patience and persistence will pay off in the long run.
--NewsUSA-