Cyberbullying, rip-off, harassment: children are exposed to many dangers on the Internet. Here's how to protect your child.
# 1. Agree clear rules
Children need support and limits – especially when dealing with the Internet. What used to be the phone list is now the class chat in WhatsApp. Prohibitions are useless here – you'd rather set up rules for a daily screen time with your child. It makes sense to have one to a maximum of two hours spread over the day. The iPhone offers a direct screen time limit that can be set individually. There are special child protection apps for Android phones.
# 2. Make the Internet and technology your friend
Screens are falsely seductive – for children and parents alike. Because children sprinkled with films or games are calm. A fatal view!
Digital media are great for creating something yourself: like cutting your own films, learning independently or even writing programs. Deal with the digital worlds instead of letting them deal with you!
# 3. Educate your child on the Internet and social networks
Children love taking pictures and filming videos and then sharing them with the world. They urgently need support to develop a feeling for what data they are allowed to release. As soon as the children come into contact with the social networks, we are asked as parents – and have to explain why some pictures and videos have lost nothing on the net.
# 4. Educate your child about the dangers of the Internet
The first rule used to be: Don't get into the car with strangers. This can also be applied to the digital: Not everyone is who he claims to be. And: Not everything that is there is correct. Teach your child that people don't always want good things – unfortunately also online.
# 5. Stay interested in what moves the child
Children quickly become independent. It does not help to play the "Big Brother" and monitor the child – rather you talk to your child as a companion and give him trust. Take it seriously: Because you need a contact person with whom he can exchange information, what it can see on the Internet – especially when it is afraid or confused.
# 6. Set limits on internet content
Surveillance no – limits yes: With protection software such as "JusProg" or "Surfing: Without: Risk" or with the app "Meine-startseite.de" your child can only access certain pages. It is also important to support your child in choosing the website. Help your child navigate the internet.
# 7. Strengthen your child's self-confidence
A classmate wrote something mean in class chat – how does your child react? The internet has made bullying worse. That is why it is important to teach children how to keep a cool head. Help your child develop the strength to endure such crises.
# 8. Be a role model
Children reflect our behavior. If we stare at the screen for too long, we shouldn't be surprised if they do the same. So pay attention to how you handle digital media yourself – by the way, this can be very beneficial. Clear rules are helpful, for example: No cell phone at the dining table!
# 9. Balance
To create an opposite pole to the screen – that simply means: man instead of machine. Talking to each other, laughing, moving and touching – these are the things that a cell phone or computer cannot do. Is there anything better than family time?
# 10. You don't have to know everything or do it alone
Every child discovers the Internet differently – and will encounter problems at some point. Then you are asked. But remember: You are not alone, because on the Internet you will find a thousand opportunities to exchange ideas with other parents. For example here, in the Brigitte forums!
About the author:
Dr. Anabel Ternès from Hattburg is committed to conscious and sustainable digitization in business, education and everyday life. She is the mother of a son and the founder of several tech, health and social companies. Ternès is CEO and founder of "GetYourWings gGmbH" for teaching digital skills in childhood, board member of "Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Germany" and mentor of the online entrepreneur platform "StartupTEENS." She heads the Institute for Sustainability Management and holds a professorship for e-business.