What is the best way for parents to warn their kids agains internet sexual predators?
Written by admin on May 5, 2009 – 11:50 am -We want our kids to be aware of possible danger, yet we want them to be able to trust too.
What should be the approach?
(teens are more than welcome to answer too)
to Sirena: I agree with what you say, except that last sentence "Your invitation for teens' answers could be seen as a predatorial one"
How in the world could that be? Asking a teen who's facing the problem, and who may or may not have heard about it from his parents can be a incredible input. What's predatorial about that? (I'm really confused)
NYCB – thanks for the input.
Please allow me to point out that if you put the word "babe" in your nickname, you pass yourself more for an older girl, than for a 14-year-old teen.
My grandfather used to make me watch the news and read articles about girls that disappeared or were raped/murdered. It scared the heck out of me and he said, 'see, this is what happens when you talk to strangers. don't trust anybody.' It worked for me. I am still very cautious.
Posted in Predators | 10 Comments »
By Summer B on May 5, 2009 | Reply
Don't let your kids have a computer in their bedroom. Have it in a public part of the house like the living room and make sure that you have good filter software to keept the porn away.
Educate your kid about how people lie and the people online might not be telling the truth about their age, gender, etc. Also, they need to know not to tell where they live or what school they go to to anyone.
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By Bearie want your babies on May 5, 2009 | Reply
Scare the hell out of them.
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By sweetsublime420 on May 5, 2009 | Reply
Let them watch "To catch a Predator" on MSNBC. If you dont know what it is, its the show where they catch online preditors that come after boys and girls ranging from 10-15. The show takes place all over in various different cities. It is pretty graphic at some points but it really does let you know how messed up these guys can be.
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By Rick G on May 5, 2009 | Reply
Talk to them about whats on the internet, tell them you trust them, but they have to trust you when you say there are bad people out there. and be specific about do 's and don'ts… no last names, no phone numbers..no addresses… no school names… that is the rule… as far as having it in thier own room i say let them, and then visit now and again to see what they are up to..
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By elimay on May 5, 2009 | Reply
Discuss in detail tell them of the dangers ,YOU know exactly what could happen if they agreed to meet up with someone,
spell it out and before you finish make sure that they have absorved everything you have said for their safety and also for your piece of mind
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By FaerieWhings on May 5, 2009 | Reply
I started teaching my son about predators when he was very young, 2. He started daycare and I wanted to make sure that he knew the difference between a bad touch and a good touch. I have been reinforcing this concept for 10 years now, adding on information. I never kept anything from him, always was forthright and answered his questions, delving even further into details….more then he expected.
He is now 12 and has email and myspace. I have all his passwords and carte blanche access to all his internet sites, and he has never fought me on it. I always told him that it wasn't him I didn't trust, but the other people. That I wasn't checking up on him, per se, but the people who were trying to contact him. We set rules as to who he is allowed to contact through these internet resources and I have to approve all people who try to be his friend on myspace.
I don't think that there should be a lot of trust of people on the internet, especially when a young person is involved. Too many people can be whoever they want to be. I have heard some stories, people telling me (and I'm an adult) degrees they have, experience they have, places they live, their gender and age, etc etc and I trust hardly any of it. Youngin's will develop a sense of who to trust with experience, nothing else. Sending them on the internet with a little bit of fear can be a good thing. It will make them think twice before answering that IM from a stranger.
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By Sirena on May 5, 2009 | Reply
don't let teens answer any strangers' emails.
The approach should be straight forward. There are people who are not nice and who will pretend to be someone else. Do not share ANY personal information, do not chat to anyone you do not know.
Your invitation for teens' answers could be seen as a predatorial one.
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By Shelley B on May 5, 2009 | Reply
I DRUM IT INTO THERE HEADS ALL THE TIME.
I HAVE ONLY JUST STARTED GIVING MY KIDS A BIT MORE FREEDOM.LIKE GOING TO PARKS,SWIMMING AND MATES HOUSE (THAT DONT LIVE TO FAR AWAY)AND GOING TO TOWN (THE MAL)
AND I ALWAYS SAY TO THEM DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE YOU DONT KNOW,ALL THE TIME!
THATS WHY THEY HAVE MOBILES !
AND IF THERE ON THE INTERNET I ALWAYS COME IN AND SEE WHAT THERE DOING AND WHAT SITES THERE GOING ON ! AND TO BE CAREFULL! AND NEVER EVER ARANGE TO MEET A STRANGER OFF THE INTERNET!
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By dpantz74 on May 5, 2009 | Reply
parents should warn them, but parents should also be monitoring their internet usage just like it were television. parents should be aware of what sites their kids go to, and should assist them at all times. they are children afterwards, and if you guide them to the right sites all the time there will be no need to curiously venture off to dangerous sites where there are predators. kids need to be monitored. most people let their kids do and go wherever they want.
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By bonstermonster20 on May 5, 2009 | Reply
My grandfather used to make me watch the news and read articles about girls that disappeared or were raped/murdered. It scared the heck out of me and he said, 'see, this is what happens when you talk to strangers. don't trust anybody.' It worked for me. I am still very cautious.
References :