Here is an interesting article regarding children who are under the age of 13 on Facebook released by Redbook Magazine asking the question; “Are your children on Facebook?” Some of the highlights of the articles are worth noting as we navigate raising our children in an online world. We want to point out some comments from the article for you:
“When her daughter nearly friended a stranger, Coleman treated it as a teachable moment. “She’s making mistakes while she’s still listening to me and in plain sight”
“The knee-jerk answer for parents of children under 13, or even older, might be to keep them off Facebook.”
“Should a parent decide to allow a child under 13 on Facebook, many experts agree on some guidelines. Parents who help set up a child’s account should walk the child through the privacy settings, and choose strict ones: settings, for example, that will not allow anyone but friends to see status updates, photos, or comments that the child makes to other friends. They should also explain the limits of those protections to the child—that a photo she posts can be copied by a so-called friend and sent out into the universe.”
Remember, if your child is forming relationships online, than part of forming your own relationship with your child is online too. Be where they are! We go to their school and sporting events, so why would we not be online with them as well? It is part of where they live! Be their teacher; do not let the culture be their guide.
To read the full article, follow this link: Kids on Facebook
Are you online with your child? We would love to hear your thoughts on this article.
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