Parenting in the digital age calls for new skills to raise healthy, happy children. That’s because a good number of children are gaining access to the internet at an increasingly early age. With that in mind, you need to teach your children some important lessons about internet safety. This way, your child can enjoy the full benefits of technological developments such as the creation of 5G, which makes networks faster while also allowing more devices to connect to the internet with no lag time. Let’s take a look at four of the most important things to teach your child when it comes to internet usage.

1. Don’t Share Personal Information Online

The first and most important lesson that you should teach your children about internet safety is the benefit of keeping private information off of social media. This isn’t just important for children; 70% of adults want some aspects of their digital life to remain private as well. The more private information people share on the internet, the more danger they put themselves in. That’s because a person with ill intentions can start tracking them via the information they share and eventually find a way to reach them and possibly harm them. From limiting the number of pictures that your child uploads to the internet to ensuring that they never publicly post their home address or school details anywhere, it’s critical to hammer in this lesson.

2. Avoid Online Scams

Next, let your children know that there are a number of scams that they might come across while on the internet. From identity theft attempts to scams that aim to take control of the device a person is using, there are a number of traps that your child might fall into if they’re not careful. To teach this lesson effectively, you need to learn about common online scams yourself and keep up with them as they evolve. This is going to make it easier for you to keep your children well informed on this subject.

3. Communicate About Problems

You also need to make sure that you have a clear and open space for free communication in your household. This will make it easier for you to assure your children that they can approach you if they come across anything suspicious or concerning. This way, you’ll have an easier time staying aware of what your child is seeing on the internet.

Good communication is a skill that you can start teaching your children as early as possible, and it will help them in various aspects of life both online and offline. Take the time to determine the most effective way to communicate with your children in a way that they understand, and they’ll feel more comfortable talking to you. For example, children as young as three years old learn how to understand the real world through realistic pretend play, according to The Genius of Play. Consider talking to your children about internet safety using methods like storytelling to make everything easier to understand.

4. Ignore Internet Bullies

Finally, remind your kids that they may come across bullies online. Tell them that the best way for them to deal with such issues is to simply walk away. While this may be hard to do, explain that engaging with online bullies will usually just escalate the problem. If things get too intense, make sure your child knows they can always talk to you or another trusted adult.

Teaching your children these four important lessons is a crucial part of proper parenting. Remember that it’s also important to lead by example and practice proper internet safety yourself. Make sure you do your due diligence and research any aspects of internet safety you may be shaky on. This way, you can help ensure your child has a fun and healthy relationship with technology.