May 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Staying home to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to online dangers, especially for children who are out of school.
Sheriff Patrick Ray urges parents to be vigilant and offers some safety tips to help.
“Online predators are everywhere on the internet. You as a parent have the responsibility to keep your child safe. Make sure you are looking and watching what your children are participating in online. That is very important. We sometimes see children get online with someone they shouldn’t and bad things happen. We want you to be very cautious and informed what your child is watching and doing online,” said Sheriff Ray.
Keep an open communication with your child. If you see they seem upset or secretive about something they are doing online, check into it.
Watch for cyber-bullying during these times that we are in.
Make sure your child’s device is running with the latest software and anti-virus program.
Make sure the privacy settings are on.
Be sure to cover your child’s webcam when not in use. This can be done by placing a piece of colored tape over it to make sure no one can view your child.
Be cautious of free educational resources. Your child should never have to provide a photo or full name to anything. If someone is asking for a photo of your child, something is wrong with that web site.
Spend time with your child online. Help them recognize and avoid misinformation. Make sure they are looking at age appropriate content especially during this time of COVID-19 and that they are not reading false information making them think they are going to die. There are all kinds of digital information resources from credible organizations.
Encourage healthy online habits. Promote and monitor good behavior online Make sure your child is being respectful while communicating with other children or classmates.
Be mindful of what type of clothes they are wearing during video calls and have them avoid doing the video calls in a bedroom. They should be done at a kitchen table where an adult can be present, hear and see what is going on.
“We do want them to have fun,” said Sheriff Ray. “We encourage parents to have their children take advantage of any digital tools that get them up and moving. Physical activity is very good for children and adults. It lessens the chance of depression, and gets them up from sitting for long periods of time.
“Exercise videos or games that require physical movement of kids are good to use. Remember to balance online recreation with offline outdoor activities.
If you have any questions or concerns, call Sheriff Ray at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department at 615-597-4935.
“We you have a specific concern we will be glad to check it out to determine if it is something appropriate for children,” said Sheriff Ray.