Parenting in the Internet age isn’t for sissies. It takes guts to stand up and admit that maybe you just don’t really know what’s going on over there at that Facebook thing or that IMing and you don’t mix or that cyberbullying sounds like a Spielberg movie and not something real. Everyone is super crunched for time and things like this tend to take a backseat in the scheme of schoolwork, housework, work-work and after school activities. Well, with just a few minutes, you can be well on your way to protecting your kids and sleeping better tonight. Here’s how:

Thirty minutes: Gather up the troops and talk about computers, and safety and cyberbullies. Maybe serve up an awesome batch of nachos while you’re at it to make it a little less intimidating. But be sure to explain exactly what bullying others really means; you’d be shocked to learn that many bullies don’t even know that the mean comments or texts they said would be considered bullying. So educate them.

 Fifteen minutes: Get involved with your kids’ teachers and the other parents at school. Talk with your child’s school principal and let them know that you’re concerned about this issue. Ask if the school could host a night where parents can share knowledge and concerns about cyberbullying and online safety.

 Ten minutes: A mere ten minutes is all it will take to set up a software monitoring program that will protect your kids, our computers and your family from harm. Not only do these programs stop computer viruses, but they stop cyberbullies and give you, the parents, a heads up on any negative sites, pictures, or texts that are coming into your computer or phone.

 Five minutes: If you do find cyberbullying on your computer, report it. Inform the local Internet provider and ask what they can and will do to stop the antagonist. Report the abuse to the social networking site it occurs on as well and be sure to block that person from your profile. Send a copy of the abuse to your school administrators and the parents of the other kid(s). This is not a time to be polite or shy, bullies prey on people afraid to speak up. So take five minutes and be your child’s advocate.

 Two minutes: It takes exactly two minutes of your time, less time than getting dressed in the morning or making breakfast, to remind your kids that sharing online is a no-no. That means it’s not okay to share real names, passwords, or any personal information like addresses or school names. Not even with their bestest of best friends. Two minutes once a month and you’re set.

 One minute: Take one minute out a month to remind your kids that they should never engage with a bully … ever. Teach them about the proper way of dealing with a bully either online or in person. Remind them to always tell you about any bullying immediately.

There are easy and quick steps you can take today that will go a long way in keeping your kids safe and protected tomorrow.

AUTHOR OVERVIEW

Paula Sirois Holistic Health Coach, RockZebra

Paula Sirois is a holistic health coach, single mother of two and a writer who tries to find the wit and humor in all that stuff that make up our daily lives; the ups and downs, the good and the bad - and all that messy, gooey mess in the middle. Check out her site at http://www.rockzebracompany.com/.

Tags: online safety, parenting