Are your kids constantly teaching you tips and tricks about the Internet? Even if you use computers every day, chances are your children may know more about them than you, and this knowledge could potentially place kids in a dangerous situation. How can you protect them with this unfair advantage? This article can help you even the playing field.
From pre-Kindergarten on, children use computers to navigate the online world of infinite information. While computers do provide educational advantages, they may also present hidden dangers, such as online bullying or exposure to predators. For this reason, it’s important parents do their part to stay informed on how to protect their children. Two of the ways parents can keep up-to-date about the Internet are to read articles offering online safety tips or ask more knowledgeable friends for help.
POS! BRB...
Do you know what this means? If not, keep reading.
Many of the acronyms used online by preteens and teens are harmless, but you may want to take a closer look at a few of them. Here are 20 of the most commonly used acronyms and what they mean.
- AFK: away from keyboard
- A/S/L: age/sex/location
- BF/GF: boyfriend/girlfriend
- BFF: best friend forever
- BRB: be right back
- BTW: by the way
- CD9: code 9 — parents nearby
- IC: I see
- IDK: I don’t know
- ILY: I love you
- JK: just kidding
- LOL: laughing out loud
- MIRL: meet in real life
- NBD: no big deal
- P911: parent emergency
- PAW or PRW: parents are watching
- PIR: parent in room
- POS: parent over shoulder
- ROTFL: rolling on the floor laughing
- TTYL: talk to you later
“I first suggest parents visit www.safetynet.aap.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website that recommends ways parents can protect their children online and offers resources for further education,” said Antonia Chiesa, MD, pediatrician with The Children’s Hospital who is trained in child abuse and neglect and is a senior instructor at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. “Once parents are aware of the dangers, they can be more proactive about guarding their children’s online safety.”
Next Steps
Open communication between parent and child is essential. Explain that while you respect your child’s privacy, you will monitor his online usage. Make it clear to your child that just like learning to drive or being allowed to stay home alone, he will gain more independence with age and a proven track record.
Along with two-way communication, be sure you:
- Instruct your child not to post any photos or personal information online, including her name, address or phone number.
- Keep computers in open, shared areas of the home, such as the kitchen or family room.
- Monitor your child’s e-mail account. (Both parents should come to an agreement regarding what age their child should be before opening an e-mail account.)
- Limit online time to less than two hours per day (this includes television and video game time) per AAP guidelines.
- Use parental controls that limit access to inappropriate content; visit www.cyberpatrol.com, www.safety4kids.com or www.securitysoft.com.
“As long as parents stay well informed and actively monitor their children’s online activity, computers can offer positive, educational opportunities for the entire family," Dr. Chiesa said.
For more information about how to keep your child safe, please visit our KidsHealth Library of Health Information for parents.
