Parents
As parents we ask ourselves what is safe for children of today. We teach them to look both ways crossing the street, or to wear their helmets while riding a bike. We teach them safety, to always use CAUTION. In today’s world it is not only bikes to ride and streets to cross safely, it’s using a computer safely as well! We can explain that it’s unsafe to give out personal information. We can teach them to use good judgment. We as the parents have the power to bring out the super hero from within our kids. We can do this by using positive encouagement, being supportive and be involved with our kids. With this in mind our children will not want to venture into unsafe areas online or even offline.
Teaching them about high self-esteem helps the child find the super hero inside. If we as parents show that we believe in them, they will believe in themselves. Looking deep into their hearts they will find the super hero that is waiting to emerge from within. The super hero within is the power and the will to succeed and know whatever a child faces they can do it. There the super hero is the light for the darkness that the click of the mouse holds. Children with poor self-esteem feel they need approval from others, which makes them prime victims for predators. Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are factors that may contribute to low self-esteem among children.
It is our responsibility to follow up and monitor their actions online. We can set up one night a week and spend time online with our kids, work as a team and have them show us what would they do if a particular situation happened. This is where learning becomes fun for them! They get to dream up ways to be safe online and to avoid problems. They become their own online super heroes and realize that a super heroes is someone or something that protects them, and knows the feeling of good instead of evil.
With the SUPER HERO power from within , any child can overcome whatever obstacle to stay safe anywhere their path takes them. Kids of all ages can be targets and/or victims. They need to draw out that super hero from within and use the power to say "NO".
