As we wrap up June and Internet Safety Month, we'd like to share some final Cyber Security & Parenting resources we've come across lately with you.
- Here's a good rundown on parental controls.
- Want to know what some of those apps are that you may have seen downloaded on your kids' devices? Here are some App Tip Sheets for your reference.
- Smart Cell Phone Use is so important. Lots of good tips and resources on texting/driving here.
This list wouldn't be complete without some of the best tricks we Fulcrum Group parents have up our sleeves:
- Laura, Marketing Coordinator, and David, Fulcrum Group VP have teens in the house and emphasize knowing what their kids of all ages are doing on social media.. Laura elaborates, "with a 16 year old in the house, we've learned a few good lessons along the way - here are my 3 best tips:
- The kids (ages 16 and 8) who live at our house have been accustomed for a long time now to realize 'their' phones and internet technology (laptops, iPods, etc) are technically 'our' technology (as we pay the cell phone and internet bills), so if they would like to participate in social media their social credentials are added to the family creds list (just like ours). Having updated, regular access to their social media and logging into social sites AS YOUR CHILD ensures you are seeing what HE/SHE is seeing. Sometimes that can be SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT from what you see as just a "follower" of your child on social media.
- Along those same lines, if your elementary schooler is a gamer-video fan (likes to watch Youtube videos of other gamers playing their game of choice online), set up a place where they can do that within earshot (and eyeshot) of you. In some instances, the incessant gamer chatter sounds benign enough for an 8 year old, but a closer look can sometimes yield graphic scenes taking place in spite of bubbly laughter and benign sounding commentary. Don't be shy about setting a limit on your kid consuming incessant "game play watching".
- If you are good friends with some of your teen's friends' parents, all the better. My teenager's group of closest friends all have moms and dads who don't hesitate to lurk on their teens' technology if the need arises. They are (painfully) aware the stuff they choose to share will be read (and shared) from one parent to the other, if warranted. This is a really great reminder to the teenage brain that online postings and even "private" text messages are not truly private at all.
It takes a village.