Internet Safety is crucial in our day and age! We’ve put together some tips to help you navigate the dangers of the internet with your children and grandchildren. Keep reading below or click to download to share and discuss with your friends.

TIPS for Internet Safety

• Predators can talk with your children through any computer device, including phones, ipads, laptops, and video game consoles

• Keep internet devices out of the bedroom as much as possible. Have games/computers in a living room. Charge them in your room at night.

• Have your child show you ALL social media apps they have on their devices and how they work.

• Get the apps on your device and friend/follow your child.

• Review their friend/follow list, make sure they know everyone on their list and they never accept friend/follow

  requests from strangers.

• Monitor your child's chat history to see who is talking to your child about what. Be suspicious of predators, not

  your child.

• Explain to them that there are dishonest people on the internet that will manipulate them into dangerous situations if they allow it.

• Tell them it's ok to not respond to a text or block someone if they are uncomfortable. And to tell you if that happens.

• Make sure they know that you are available to ask if they aren't sure about whether something, or someone, online is good or bad.

• Ask them direct questions to find out

  • if they've seen pornography online.

  • someone online has asked for a nude photo or sent them any.

  • if anyone has talked to them about sex.

  • if anyone has talked offered gifts.

  • if anyone has talked told them they would take care of them.

  • if anyone has talked told them not to tell anyone about their chats.

• Make sure they know predators will lie about caring for them, and say they want to be their 'boyfriend' or 'friend' online and to gain their trust in order to hurt them later.

• Make sure they know that if they've already done one of these things, they have a way out and you will help them navigate that. Make sure they know they can be honest and you still love them no matter what.

• Remember you are the first line of defense for your child. Don't be afraid to enter into their world with love and parental control.

Apps for Monitoring Your Child’s Device

WebWatcher TeenSafe

Safety Apps for Smart Phones

Each of these apps is designed to help your children in an emergency. Everything

from sending the GPS location at the touch of a button to setting off a siren. We

would encourage you to install one of these apps on your child's and your mobile

devices (phones) and make sure your child knows how they work. You can find

these apps on Google play or the App Store.

Circle of Six BSafe Circulo (also available in Spanish)

You can find these apps on Google play or the App Store.