Engage With Your Child
- Your relationship is important. Keeping an open, interested attitude to your child's use of technology is one of the best things you can do.
- Ask your child to show you how they use social media. Engage with them on it. Who are their buddies? How do they know them?
- Discuss cyberbullying with your children and ask if they have ever experienced it or seen it happen to someone.
- Emphasize your love and desire to protect your child. Emphasize that you won't take away their computer privileges if something happens (remembering that this is the main reason kids don't tell adults when they are cyberbullied)
Model Technology Boundaries
What messages do your children get from you about technology? Are you always on your phone? They will be too! Try out some of the following ideas for establishing technology boundaries:
- family no tech time? eg. Phones/devices in a basket for the night
- think about where technology is physically placed. In bedroom at night not a great idea.
- engage parent controls for time boundaries (but set the time boundaries WITH your child)
Build Your Digital Skills
Get interested and informed about the apps your child is using. Take a step into their world and engage there with them. Get your child to teach you, try googling for things you want to know.
- Take classes or have your child teach you
- Read - use google to search specific topics
- Learn how to identify secretive behaviours (minimizing windows, switching screens etc)
If you need help or support on any of this, the Digital Learning Coaches would love to chat with you. Stop by the DLC office anytime.
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