Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 103 Encourage open dialogue with your kids and offer a “No-Questions-Asked” deal as a safety net if they feel they could be in danger. Adolescents often make poor decisions that could lead to victimization when they have broken a family rule. For example, they may not tell you about a potentially harmful situation because you will know they have broken a rule. Let them know they can come to you for help, no matter what they've done, without fear of harsh judgment; once the crisis is averted, you can sit down and talk with them about what happened, and how they can avoid it in the future. Be constructive about good places for them to visit on the Internet. Work with your kids, other caregivers and parental resources to develop your family’s list of safe, fun sites to visit. Explore kid-friendly search engines for your children to use when looking for information online. CYBER-SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS Model positive online behaviour. As a caregiver, you have a strong influence on your child’s behaviour—both on and offline. Make sure that you are demonstrating ethical behaviour from the places you go online and how you use e-mail. Also, talk to them about the importance of not using the Internet as a tool for bullying or other actions that would harm others. Remind them that everything said online stays in cyberspace FOREVER, whether or not it is deleted. As a caregiver, you have a strong influence on your child’s behavior - both on and offline. www.redcross.ca ...continued from page 101
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