Internet safety for teenagers and children is a parent's priority lately. Here are some new tips and strategies to give parents solutions on how to protect their children.
The biggest trick some child predators' are using is to pretend to be a kid, in a kid site chat room.
Child predators are talking the lingo, misspelling words, having simple conversations to gain trust with children on the internet.
But did you know just how fast they can find information about you, your child or your family?
Scroll down to the bottom and you will see a section called
Interactive Tools
Then click on the link
What Can Be Revealed in Minutes About Your Child Online
It is a downloadable tutorial ' shows parents and kids just how someone can search for information about you or your child, if they frequent chat rooms, or send out any type of posts on the internet.
It shows you how a stranger on the internet can find out EVERYTHING about your child in about 45 minutes, with even the smallest piece of information to start with.
So what will a child abductor do with this information?
Even if they do not know what your child looks like, they can wait for them to come home from school, call them by name, call them on the phone. And if they walk home from school, they can come in contact with them en route back home.
Without a doubt, the most dangerous of all ... you might not even know if your child is being stalked by a person like this.
Here are some tips to safeguard your child against these types of individuals:
1. Just like TV, video games, or watching movies, you shouldn't give your child free reign of the computer any time they like. Have a central family computer space (keep it out of their rooms if there is an internet hook-up). By making use of the computer as a family affair, parents can keep a close eye on who they are interacting with.
2. Make sure you know who they are chatting with online and tell them exactly why you're concerned. Just like you want to meet their friends, get to know who they are talking to online.
Diva Defense Tip - Kids are smart these days. They know there are nasty people in our society. Be open with them about your concerns and tell them you love them and you don't want anything happening to them. ' way, when you get 'nosey cozy' when they're online, it's not a shock to their system.
3. Make it crystal clear to your child under no circumstances should they give out their name, address, phone #, or where they go to school - over the internet.
Diva Defense Tip - It's natural for a kid to want to talk about those things. that's what makes up their day. Help them fight the urge by working with your child on 'safe' topics to chat about movies, music, current events, even what they are learning in school. But nothing personal.
4. Have them tell you if there are any conversations ' make them feel uncomfortable and to not believe anyone they chat with when they type in "Don't Tell Your Mom or Dad ... " that's a big flag. Have them tell you about it.
5. Chatting kids should know never to meet ANYONE off of the internet without checking with their parents first, whether in a separate chat room or in person. They must have a parent along and meet in a public place.
6. Tell your child they should NEVER send a picture to anyone, without your permission.
Diva Defense Tip - Talk with your child about setting rules for going online (time of day, length of time) and what sites and chat rooms are OK to visit. And what would happen if they break those rules.
Working together, parents can make internet safety for teenagers and children informative and fun. But, by working together we won't make it easy for a child predator to find them.
about the author: Michelle Annese, “The Diva of Defense™" is a self defense instructor, consultant, speaker, author, and copywriter. With a third degree black belt and inductee into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Ms. Annese is a safety advocate teaching thousands each year in school talks, special events and assemblies in elementary, high schools, and colleges nationwide. She is also the author of the book: “101 Self Defense Strategies" and creator of the programs “Diva Defense Training" and “The SafeGuard System for Kids". Complete information on Michelle Annese’s books and other services offered is available from her web site http://www.michelleannese.com . And while there, don't forget to subscribe to her FREE weekly Ezine!
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
