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How to Prevent Contact with Online Predators As a parent, safeguarding your home is your first line of defense when it comes to protecting your children from sexual predators online. While you may not be able to monitor your child 100% of the time, there are steps you can take to make sure your child is properly protected while using the Internet. Have an open relationship with your child. Having an open relationship means having a relationship within which your child can feel comfortable approaching you with questions or concerns regarding any topic. Children, younger and older, need a certain amount of support and affection at all times, but they also demand respect. If your child approaches you with a subject you are uncomfortable with, or with an opinion you disagree with, it’s important to communicate calmly. You never want to make your child feel unappreciated or disrespected, regardless of whether or not your opinions are the same. Alienating your child because of a difference of opinions will cause your child to shut down and stop communicating with you; he may feel like he can’t come to you in confidence if there is ever a serious problem. This lack of communication could lead your child to seek out the attention of others, and in doing so could inevitably lead him or her into the arms of a predator. An open relationship will help you and your child to understand each other, while at the same time allowing you to know what is going on in your child’s life. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to protecting your child. Establish boundaries. Have a discussion with your child about talking to strangers. Define exactly what types of people are considered strangers, both in the online world and in the outside world. Give specific examples of the types of information a child should and should not give a stranger should they ever be approached. A great way to help your child understand these concepts is through the use of role-playing. You can pretend to be a stranger or predator; ask your child questions and practice the types of answers your child should give anyone they do not know. Never tolerate harassment. Contact authorities immediately if you or your child feels harassed by anyone you come in contact with on the Internet. Harassment should not be tolerated on any level and many local law enforcement agencies have formed special Internet Crimes Units. These units are specially trained to track down online predators through the use of Internet user names, Internet addresses, and other technical codes most people know nothing about. Of course, if your child is harassed online, take note of the website he or she was on and use your Internet monitoring software to block that site or to limit your child’s access in the future. These steps may seem simple, but even the simplest approach can go a long way in protecting your child. Taking measures to prevent your child from coming into inappropriate contact with a sexual predator is much easier than having to potentially deal with the aftermath if contact is made. Protect your child by remaining proactive at all times. If you enjoyed
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