Safe Internet Tips From Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital
Keep your child safe on the internet with these tips from Children’s Hospital.
Tuesday, February 10th is Safer Internet Day, and Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital wants your child to feel confident and educated when using the internet.
The internet can be a great place for your child to learn a new topic, connect with peers their age, build digital skills and more. However, it can also be a harmful place for a child’s mental health and privacy, if used improperly or not monitored by a trusted adult.
“Before picking up your devices, there are two important considerations: the amount of time spent and what types of activities kids are engaging in, says Dr. Ashley Breazeale, psychologist and lead behavioral health consultant at Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital.
In today’s world, it can feel impossible to limit exposure to screens, social media and streaming devices. However, it is vital for the health of individuals and their families to establish healthy boundaries around screen use.
Help your child build strong digital habits on the internet using these tips:
- Quality vs. Quantity: Not all screentime is made equal. Monitor the time spent on devices and how your child spends this time. Are they learning something new or endlessly scrolling? (EX: Watching a movie with your family versus your child scrolling on a social media app for long periods of time.) It can also be helpful to check in on how they are feeling after different types of screen time. (Ex: Social media scrolling versus facetiming a family member/friend). You can also help them identify how they feel after their screentime. (Ex: Do you feel rested? Are you feeling more anxious or irritable? Are you tired?)
- Spend Time Together Online: Model healthy online habits by helping your child recognize misinformation or potentially harmful ads. This is also a great way to identify age-appropriate content. It is important for parents to understand what your child is seeing on screens and reducing access to harmful content with parental controls.
- Socializing: Because it can be hard to decipher the age of the person you’re talking to online, make sure your child is only talking to friends you and your child know.
- Cyberbullying: Explain to your child that their words online can be damaging to someone else. It’s important to pause before sending a message or making a comment. If they’re experiencing a bully, have an open conversation with them on how to best handle the situation.
Most importantly, keep ongoing conversations with your child about their time on the internet, so you can help them navigate their experiences.
“It's important to start these conversations early (ideally during toddlerhood) and have them often. Remember that it is never too late to start talking about internet use or to establish new boundaries. Caregivers can help by setting limits for children and themselves. Decreasing their own use of screens in front of children, at mealtimes, and at least 30 minutes before bed can model these habits for children and encourage other important bonding activities,” says Dr. Breazeale.
Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital recommends talking with your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns. Since these issues can be time sensitive, Children’s Hospital has a team of behavioral health consultants that partner with the physicians to address all behavioral health issues and concerns, so a child can receive the specialized help they may need. To learn more, visit Children’s Hospital.com/medical-services/pediatric-behavioral-health/behavioral-health-consultants/.
Resources for Child Online Safety
