The digital world is growing by the hour and our lives are moving more and more online. Just as we have taught our kids to cross the street with caution we must teach them to navigate the digital world. Instead of trying to shut this world out, or to leave your children to their own devices, we should grow and develop with them in learning about digital life.
Here is how you set important boundaries for your children depending on their age:
Set Boundaries – Set clear rules for your child’s digital life, write them down and go through them with your child so they fully understand.
- Children Under 6;
- You’re only allowed X amount of hours online per day
- Your hours online are only under adult supervision
- Visit only the web pages agreed on with your parents
- Don’t download, install or buy anything online without your parents
- Immediately close all web pages you don’t like.
- Only use apps and games that have been checked with your parents.
- Do not create email accounts on your own – any child under 6 does not need one
- Do not use any social media, chats and forums
- Never give your name, address phone number, email address, passwords, or school name anywhere online.
- Tell an adult if something makes you uncomfortable, scared or confused.
- Children Between 6 and 11;
- Homework must be done before any digital time
- You are allowed X amount of hours online per day, including the time needed for your homework
- On school nights, television, games consoles, PC, Phones and Tablets are closed by the agreed time.
- Use the internet only under adult supervision and only visit web pages agreed with your parents.
- Do not download, install or buy anything online without parents.
- Tell an adult if something makes you uncomfortable, scared or confused and immediately close web pages that you don’t like.
- Create any emails or accounts together with your parents. Your email address is personal information, so check with your parents before entering your email address into any service or giving it to anyone.
- Do not create social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest etc. on your own.
- The use of social media needs to be agreed with your parents, and they need to be included as your friends so that they are able to guide you in using them safely.
- Never give any personal information to services or people. Personal information includes your name, pictures of yourself, your address, phone number, email address, passwords, school name, where you are at the moment or where you are going.
- Behave well online. Do not use mean or rude language.
- If somebody else is not behaving well towards your tell your parents immediately before responding.
- Children Between 12 and 16;
- Homework must be done before any digital time
- You are allowed X amount of hours online per day, including the time needed for your homework
- On school nights, television, games consoles, PC, Phones and Tablets are closed by the agreed time.
- Always use the internet wisely.
- Tell an adult if something makes you uncomfortable, scared, or confused, and immediately close web pages that you don’t like.
- Do not create social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest etc. on your own.
- The use of social media needs to be agreed with your parents, and they need to be included as your friends so that they are able to guide you in using them safely.
- Discuss downloading, installing and buying things online with your parents and agree on rules for it – do not do any of these things without agreed rules.
- Never accept people you don’t know as friends or otherwise respond to them.
- Never get together with someone you meet online.
- Never give your personal information to services or people. Personal information includes your name, pictures of yourself, your address, phone number, email address, passwords, school name, where you are the moment and where you are going.
- Behave well when using, email, texting, messaging and posting in social.
- If somebody else is not behaving well towards your tell your parents immediately before responding.
