12 Tips For Digital Parenting

What You Says Goes. As parents set the rules, boundaries and the norms of behaviour for children's offline activities, so this should be the natural order online too.

Graphic Card created by Blue Dog Scientific for Innovation Squad

blog.innovationsquad.co.uk

Parents Are The First Port of Call. Encourage children to remember that if they are hurt, upset or concerned by anything that happens in their online lives, it is still the parents to whom they should run.



Reward Good Behaviour, Dis-incentivize Bad. Parents can use access to the internet, to a mobile device or an app, as well as the degree of parental chaperoning, as a practical way, in itself, to reward good online behaviour.



The Biggest Part of A Child's Network. Just as in real life parents would usually be a child's first and main connection, friend & follower, this should be naturally the case in all the online spaces they use too.



Stranger Danger Applies. This analogy is straight forward - anyone your child does not know in real life is a Stranger online too. The same rules about stranger danger as in the real world will hold true. Education is as a key as offline.



Don't Let Them Go Into The Unknown Alone. It should be normal for parents to accompany a child the first time they visit new places online - whether it be a new app or new online social network, to suss it out, observe and assess.



"Don't Go Anywhere Without Telling Me". Making it clear to a child that, for their own benefit, they need to ask your permission before they use specific apps or social networks, will establish that this is normal behaviour.



Play Nice and Play Fair. Unruly behaviour, upsetting others, shouting, throwing things, being rude, bullying, ganging up is bad behaviour. Encouraging others to engage in bad behaviour is bad behaviour. This applies to everyone!



Don't Get Into Fights. It is worthwhile teaching children to avoid conflict and arguments and that they can just walk away the moment online play stops being fun.



If In Doubt, Ask (Children). Let's encourage children to seek Parental help or advice and to report to them if they are at all worried or unsure about anything they see or hear online.



If In Doubt, Ask (Parents). Parents are encouraged to seek help or advice and report to the relevant bodies or support organisations if they are at all worried or unsure about anything they see or hear online.



"What Did You Do Today?" Consider that showing active interest and getting involved in your child's online life, without being too nosey, can help to build trust and understanding both ways. Graphic Card created by

Blue Dog Scientific for Innovation Squad


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12 Tips For Digital Parenting