{"id":9873,"date":"2019-04-10T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2019-04-10T07:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=9873"},"modified":"2022-03-18T05:03:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T05:03:50","slug":"give-your-kids-the-tools-they-need-to-thrive-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/give-your-kids-the-tools-they-need-to-thrive-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Empower Your Child in the Mobile and Digital World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Young<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Supervise, Don’t Scrutinize<\/strong>

If you really want to watch every website your children visit, read their email and instant messages, and see every photo they share, you certainly can. But what, precisely, does that teach them? Shouldn’t they know that a stranger contacting them is bad on their own, without your intervening?

Focus instead on a policy of supervision. Use website controls<\/a> and parental control apps to set limits, and have a long talk where you explain in terms they can understand why certain websites and apps are off-limits. In short, invest them with trust and the ability to grow that trust.

Have Open-Minded Rules<\/strong>

Parental control apps can make enforcing certain rules easy; no YouTube during homework or school, for example. But rules without justifications can be infuriating for adults, let alone children. So when you lay down a rule, include the reasons why with it. Make it clear that you trust them, but there are risks you want to keep them away from for now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set standards and consequences for breaking the rules, and also standards for loosening the rules. For example, if they want their own Facebook account, you might ask them to demonstrate what they do if a stranger sends them a message that scares them, or that they’re able to spot propaganda and sort it from factual reporting.

Similarly, remember that the challenges kids face can be very different. It would be wonderful if girls and boys were treated the same on the internet, but unfortunately, they’re not, and both boys and girls should know what to do when somebody is being attacked just for who they are.

Make it clear the ultimate decision lies with you, and that any decision you make is conditional on following the rules. However, the rules should grow and change along with your kids.
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\"Family