Online safety tips for kids heading back to school (2024)

08/01/2024

As your child prepares to head back to school, now is a great time to discuss the importance of online safety and healthy social media habits.

By David K. McIntosh, MD, Pediatrician, Internal Medicine, Nuvance Health Medical Practice

Transitioning from the freedom of summer to the structure of school can be challenging, especially if your child enjoyed extra screen time during summer vacation. With the new school year approaching, now is the perfect time to discuss the importance of keeping personal information private and finding joy in social media responsibly.

Start the school year off right by making education a top priority! Learn how to manage internet distractions and help your child focus on themselves and their academics.

Related content: 4 back-to-school tips to prepare for a healthy year

How to help your child build confidence despite social media pressure

While social media offers a virtual world of excitement, it can also negatively impact your child’s mental health. Constant exposure to filtered images of “perfect” lives can sometimes make children feel like they don’t quite measure up.

This could lead to feelings of:

  • Anxiety

  • Stress

  • Depression

  • Low self-esteem

  • Fatigue

You can help reduce the pressure of social media by encouraging them to focus on their own unique strengths and interests. Remind them everyone is special in their own way and individuality is what makes them different!

Related content: Stressed out? Discover the effect of stress on the brain and ways to manage it.

Help them embrace their individuality by joining in on their hobbies. If your child is interested in cooking, establish a “build-your-own pizza night” once a week. Not only is pizza a crowd pleaser, but it will be something your child looks forward to! Plus, they can get creative with toppings and make something different each week!

To help your child build confidence, partake in activities they find joy in. Whether that’s drawing cartoons, learning about the solar system, or playing a board game— when you show interest in their hobbies, they can feel proud for teaching you something. Not only will they be happy to spend time with you, but being involved in their favorite activities can help strengthen your relationship.

Find a Nuvance Health primary care provider near me.

Tips to keep your child safe online

Essentially, the world is at your child’s fingertips. They have access to the same websites and apps that you do. Unless you have a conversation about how to stay safe online and put safety measures into place, your child is free to roam the world wide web.

Here are a few ways to promote online safety for your child:

  • Speak openly with your child: Become your child’s sounding board. Establish trust and encourage them to talk to you about any issues they encounter online or in general.

  • Use privacy settings: Educate your child about the dangers of sharing personal details such as their name, address, phone number and personal interests. Their social media profile and posts should only be visible to people they know.

  • Practice online etiquette: Encourage your child to follow the golden rule and treat others how they would want to be treated. They should think twice before posting or sharing anything that could be disrespectful to others.

  • Use parental controls: Regularly monitor and limit your child’s online activity by restricting access to inappropriate content and limiting the amount of time they spend on their device.

  • Set screen time limits: Excessive screentime can wreak havoc on your child well-being, especially their sleep. Lack of sleep can make them more vulnerable to sickness and make them feel sluggish the next day.

Related content: Fall health guide: Key steps to ready yourself for autumn illnesses

Recognizing signs of cyberbullying in your child

Teaching your child responsible online behavior can go a long way in creating a safe online environment and prevent cyberbullying. If you suspect your child is being targeted, reassure them they are not alone and you are there to support them.

Signs of cyberbullying might include:

Changes in emotional and physical behavior

Look out for mood swings, irritability, sadness, sudden outbursts of anger, headaches or stomachaches. These could be signs of cyberbullying.

Withdrawal from social activities

Your child may lose interest in activities they once enjoyed or withdraw from social interactions with friends and family. They might spend time alone in their room or avoid social gatherings.

Drop in academic performance

Pay attention to a decline in grades or a lack of interest in schoolwork. Encourage open dialogue by asking about their day, such as what exciting things they learned or what surprised them.

Find a Nuvance Health primary care provider near me.

How to help your child create productive study habits

While social media offers plenty of entertainment and opportunities for self-expression, it’s also a gold mine for educational content. From educational videos about American history to algebra-focused study groups, these platforms can enhance your child’s learning experience.

However, as with any good thing, moderation is key. Despite the academic benefits of social media, carving out dedicated study time is necessary for a productivity. Creating a quiet and distraction-free study space can help your child develop productive study habits and improve their academic performance.

The bottom line: Navigating social media can be both enriching and challenging for children. Nevertheless, you can’t stop your child from surfing the web, but you can help them make smarter choices. By encouraging open communication, practicing responsible online behavior and prioritizing balanced screen time, you can influence their decision on the content they consume, produce and with whom they share it with.

Online safety tips for kids heading back to school (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to teach children about online safety? ›

How to talk to children about keeping safe online
  1. Start with the positives of the internet. If you don't know where to start, try simply exploring what they enjoy doing online. ...
  2. Create a safe space. ...
  3. Don't blame or shame. ...
  4. Normalise the conversation. ...
  5. Express it differently. ...
  6. Explore apps and sites together.

What is the best online safety for kids? ›

Never post or trade personal pictures. Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location. Use only a screen name and don't share passwords (other than with parents). Never agree to get together in person with anyone met online without parent approval and/or supervision.

What are the Safety tips for walking back to school? ›

Safety Tips for Kids

Always look left, right, left before crossing. Always wait until there is no oncoming traffic before crossing. Walk, don't run across the street. Wear bright colored clothes with reflective tape.

How do I talk to my 8 year old about online safety? ›

Talk to your kids about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other activities. Talk about healthy sexuality because kids can easily come across online pornography. Encourage your kids to come to you if they encounter anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened.

What are the four C's in relation to online risks? ›

KCSIE groups online safety risks into four areas: content, contact, conduct and commerce (sometimes referred to as contract). These are known as the 4 Cs of online safety.

What are 5 ways to be safe online? ›

Top tips for staying secure online
  • Top tips for staying secure online.
  • Use a strong and separate password for your email.
  • Install the latest software and app updates.
  • Turn on 2-step verification (2SV)
  • Password managers: using browsers and apps to safely store your passwords.
  • Backing up your data.
  • Three random words.

What are 7 internet safety tips? ›

Cybersecurity 101: 7 Basic Internet Safety Tips
  • Protect Your Personal Information With Strong Passwords. ...
  • Keep Personal Information Private. ...
  • Make Sure Your Devices Are Secure. ...
  • Pay Attention to Software Updates. ...
  • Be Careful About Wifi. ...
  • Set Up Two-Factor Authentication. ...
  • Back Up Your Personal Data.

What are 5 facts about online safety? ›

20 Frightening Cyber Security Facts and Stats
  • 85% of people posting puppy photos are trying to scam you.
  • Human error accounts for 95% of all data breaches.
  • Every 39 seconds there is a cyber attack.
  • 43% of cyber attacks target small business.
  • 75% of cyber attacks start with an email.
Sep 19, 2023

Should I let my 10 year old walk home from school? ›

While every child is different, we wouldn't recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time. Children in primary school aged 6-12 are usually too young to walk home from school alone, babysit or cook for themselves without adult supervision.

Is it safe to let kids walk to school? ›

Children usually aren't ready to start walking to school without an adult until about fifth grade, or around age 10. Younger children are more impulsive and less cautious around traffic, and they often don't fully understand other potential dangers they could come across.

How can I stay safe at school? ›

6 Rules for School Safety
  1. Learn the school's emergency procedures. ...
  2. Know travel routes to and from the school. ...
  3. Know and follow school security and safety measures. ...
  4. Talk with your child about safety. ...
  5. Inform school staff about health and emotional concerns. ...
  6. Get involved.

How to keep your kids safe online? ›

Use technology to protect them

Help your child learn to keep personal information private. If your privacy settings are not secure, anyone can see your information. Keep webcams covered when not in use. For younger children, tools such as parental controls like safe search, can help keep online experiences positive.

What are the online safety rules for kids? ›

10 Internet Safety Tips for Kids
  • Don't give anyone your password, name, address, the name of your school or any information about your family.
  • Don't talk to strangers on the Internet.
  • Don't agree to meet anyone in person that you've met online.
  • Don't fill in a profile that asks for your name and address.
Aug 3, 2014

What is cyber safety for kids? ›

Cyber safety is the safe and responsible use of information and communication technologies, such as the internet, social media, online games, smart phones, tablets and other connected devices. Cyber safety education provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe in online environments.

How to teach your kids about cyber security? ›

Teaching Cybersecurity Education at Home
  1. Use the internet to find cybersecurity resources. ...
  2. Keep your data to yourself. ...
  3. Introduce your kids to a password manager and help them create their vault. ...
  4. Monitor engagement on social platforms. ...
  5. Establish household best practices for online security.

How to teach internet safety in the classroom? ›

Here's how you can teach kids about using the internet more safely.
  1. Create a School Policy, and Have Students Sign It. ...
  2. Teach Students About Online Privacy. ...
  3. Create an Effective Cyberbullying Reporting System. ...
  4. Get Students Involved. ...
  5. Keep Up With Technology. ...
  6. Provide Resources to Students. ...
  7. Blocking Sites Won't Fix Everything.

What is the best practice related to online safety? ›

  • Get the latest anti-virus and firewall software. ...
  • Update your internet browser. ...
  • Create a strong and easy-to-remember password. ...
  • Use a different password to the one you use for other services. ...
  • Change your password on a regular basis. ...
  • Never share your password.

How should children be taught about responsible internet use? ›

Here are some valuable tips to help you help your children navigate the world of social media safely.
  1. Open Communication is Key. ...
  2. Set Age-Appropriate Boundaries. ...
  3. Educate Them About Online Privacy. ...
  4. Lead by Example. ...
  5. Limit Screen Time. ...
  6. Teach Digital Etiquette. ...
  7. Encourage Critical Thinking. ...
  8. Promote Healthy Friendships.

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