Category: Child Safety

With great bandwidth comes great responsibility: Parenting in the digital age

25/10/2017

Dr Annabel Chan, Clinical Psychologist

Human communication has come a long way. From cave painting, to writing, to international post, to voice telecommunication, and now a global network of data and information – the world wide web!

The evolution of communication continues online and faster than ever. As the first generation to grow up with online communication as their standard, today’s children have been called “internet natives’. They pass text messages instead of notes, send emails instead of letters, and spend much of their social time in cyberspace. Their favourite entertainers may be on YouTube, not television, and instead of barracking for a football team, they may be keen members of online fandoms (or both!).

Some adults may not feel so comfortable in cyberspace, however. Even parents who use Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter may not feel as excited by online activity as children who never knew the world before social media and streaming video. This technological “generation gap” can create tensions at home, when well-meaning parents attempt to place limits on internet use without fully understanding what it means to their child - essentially grounding them from the cyber playground.

For parents in that situation, it can help to know that behind the weird culture and complex technology of the internet is something old and simple – people communicating, connecting, and forming communities.

Credit: Adam Ellis

Here is a cheat-sheet outlining some commonly-used social media platforms:

Credit: www.addthis.com

Or perhaps a more easily relatable version for parents here.

Regardless of how someone feels about social media, it is here to stay. It is also important to acknowledge that online relationships are REAL relationships, with scope, depth and feeling. Online media allow people to connect, collaborate, commiserate, and celebrate, and have created global citizens able to share ideas and thoughts instantaneously around the world.

Perhaps most importantly, the internet provides social and intellectual access for people who struggle to fit into their local community, whether that’s due to disability, isolation, or just being a wonderfully weird and atypical human.

Social media is not the enemy.

the internet provides social and intellectual access

Credit: Adam Ellis

Yes, like everything else, the internet has a dark side, and parents have the challenging job of ensuring it doesn’t harm their children. The best, longest-lasting way to do that is to learn about the medium, teach children to navigate cyberspace safely, and create a judgement-free environment that allows children to speak frankly with their parents about online experiences.

Most people use the internet respectfully and with good intentions, but some individuals use the mask of anonymity online to victimise others. Common terms for this are “cyber harassment”, “online interpersonal harm” or “internet-related harm”, and can take many forms, such as:

Cyberbullying - using power in a relationship to repeat online behaviour that causes physical and/or psychological harm; this can also take the form of peer pressure in group chats and social media, where peers make someone change their behaviour or do something they don’t really want to do

Unwanted contact - cyberstalking (repeated unwanted contact via online media) and online threats (directly or indirectly making someone afraid for their safety or wellbeing)

Harassment - trolling (being deliberately provocative to make someone angry or distressed), doxxing (releasing private information about someone to make them easier to target), swatting (calling in fake emergencies at someone’s address, causing emergency services and police to attend)

Identity harm- gaslighting (denying someone’s identity or experience to cause them doubt and uncertainty) and catfishing (pretending to be someone very different online, often to gain attention or trust)

Sexual harm - grooming (cultivating a close relationship with someone, usually young and/or vulnerable, with the goal of taking advantage of them), threats of sexual assault, revenge porn, asking for and publishing real or fake pornographic images, and other sexually-offensive behaviour

The answer seems simple: take the internet away from children.

Unfortunately, this can be the worst option.

Despite some risks, the internet is where many children and teens explore their social lives and make the human connections necessary to healthy emotional growth. Banning a child for being harmed would be like ordering them to stay away from the playground and isolate themselves from friends because they have been bullied.

Study after study has shown that prohibiting teens from using social network sites pushes them to maintain secret accounts. A child who gets punished for disclosing their social media troubles will be reluctant to discuss their online activity with adults, possibly with disastrous results: kids interacting online without the benefit of parental guidance.

Let’s look at some research:

According to the McAfee Digital Deception Study 2013: Exploring the Online Disconnect between Parents & Pre-teens, Teens and Young Adults, most parents shy away from overseeing their children’s networked activities as they feel outpaced by online technology:

Only 20% say they know how to find out what their child is doing online.
74% of parents say they don't have the time or the energy to keep up with everything their child is doing online.
72% of parents say they are overwhelmed by modern technology and just hope for the best.
66% say their child is more tech-savvy than they are, and they’ll never be able to keep up with their child’s online behaviours.
This attitude is amplified among parents of tweens!
58% of tweens say they know how to hide what they do from their parents, and this number jumps to 65% for teens, and 80% for young adults.
Nearly half (46%) of the young people indicated they would actually change their online behaviour if they knew their parents were watching.

Credit: JosValdman

The evidence is clear - cyber literacy is important to effective parenting of this digital generation. Participate in your child’s online life, just as you would their offline activities. Foster an open, curious, and non-punitive home environment where your child is regularly invited to share their online joys and woes without fear of a dismissive or punishing response.

The worst-case scenario here isn’t your child telling you an adult is asking them for naked photos.
The worst-case scenario is that they don’t.

So, what CAN you do if your child tells you that they have been harmed online?

Part 2: Hashtag You’re It: Parenting tips for responding to online harm.

If you feel overwhelmed and would like guidance on parenting in the digital age, Hopscotch and Harmony psychologists can support you in making informed decisions about gaming and social media use that fits the needs and culture of your family. Contact us!

Dr Annabel Chan is a forensically-trained Clinical Psychologist who specialises in social media dynamics, attachment and identity formation, and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. A skilled navigator of cyberculture and online social behaviour, Annabel enjoys helping her clients and their parents get the most out of communication technology and recognise its strengths and dangers.

Is the internet going to be your child's sex ed teacher?

8/8/2017

by Jessica Cleary, Psychologist

As a parent you have the opportunity to be your child's most influential educator in regards to all things sexuality and reproductive health. The problem is, many parents feel awkward about having these conversations and are not really sure how to begin. So some parents don't go there at all to avoid the discomfort.

If you avoid teaching your child about sexuality then you run the risk of someone else doing it for you. Sex ed programs in schools can teach some information, but the other biggest influencer these days is what kids read and see on the internet.

With the average age of first exposure to pornography around 11 years (with some researchers stating it is as young as 8), we need to be proactive in educating our children. If we don't then children and teens might learn that the violence and unrealistic behaviour demonstrated in readily accessible mainstream pornography is normal sexual behaviour.

So, let's go back to the beginning...

Name it, don't shame it!
Cutesy body part nicknames instead of scientific terms are really not appropriate if we want to empower our children to have positive body image. If it is difficult for you to use anatomically correct words to describe genitals, think about why that is. Did you inherit this discomfort from your own parents?

We don't want our children to feel that there is anything shameful about their bodies. By encouraging the use of correct body part names we send the message that their body is normal - whether that body part be a shoulder, penis, liver, clitoris, scrotum or knee. It's body science!

When we don't use the name of certain body parts we send the message that those words are not to be spoken. This can lead to children feeling shame about their bodies and can discourage children asking questions about sexual development and seeking help when needed. Instead they might look to the internet to get their answers.

Additionally, if something of concern were to happen to a child regarding inappropriate touch, then it's harder for the child to communicate this to a trusted adult in a way that is understood.. "He touched my noodle" isn't going to get the same attention as "he touched my penis".

Getting your vaginas confused with your vulvas?
It doesn't help that many of us adults haven't been taught anatomically correct terms for our reproductive and sexual anatomy. Unfortunately, it's pretty common for girls in particular to not know the correct names of their body parts. Knowing the accurate names helps in a medical situation or in abuse situations. (FYI: the vulva is the external female genital organs and the vagina is the internal organ connecting the genital organs to the uterus).

It's never too early to have THE talk...
Actually, you never have to have THE talk. Instead, speak early and speak often about all parts of the body and all things sexuality as they come up. The more you talk about the body the easier it will be for both of you. And when the more curly questions start rolling in you can continue the conversation in age appropriate terms. If your child isn't asking any questions then take the lead with having resources available for them to look it if they are interested. If you need some age-appropriate ideas then check out these reading materials.

If you're taken off-guard with a particularly tricky question, say "That's a very interesting and important question. Let me have a think about it and I'll answer it for you tonight". Make sure you do address it! Don't chicken out.

...but it's also never too late to start the conversation
If you have older kids and are worried because you have never talked to them about sex stuff, then be assured that it's never too late. Strike up a conversation and admit: "You know, I realise that I should have started talking to you about relationships and sex earlier than now, but I would really like to change that." Let them know that you want to be there to answer questions and to help problem solve when issues arise.

Is your embarrassment getting the better of you?
You've gotta just rip that bandaid off and do it! You might feel uncomfortable at first but this feeling will pass, especially when your children just take the information in their stride, as kids generally do.

If you have young children then nappy changes or bath time are ideal opportunities to name genitals just as you do other body parts. After you do it a few times your discomfort will subside.

Looking through books on the reproductive system with your primary school aged child sends the message that you are the go-to person when they have questions and are curious about something to do with sex. Don't make a big deal about it, answer questions in a casual way, and have books on the reproductive system accessible just like you do with other science books on astronomy and the environment.

If you are really struggling, just be honest. Start with "I feel a bit embarrassed talking about this because my parents and I never spoke about these things when I was growing up. But I think it's really important for you to know so I'll give it my best shot." Tell them that "You can always ask me any question you have and I'll do my best to answer it."

It's up to us parents to manage the discomfort that we might have around sexuality and the body so we can be the primary source of information for our kids. A child's questions are often simple and not sexual and deserve to be met with positivity, openness, and accuracy.

You've got this!

Jessica Cleary
Jessica is the Principal Psychologist and Director of Hopscotch & Harmony as well as the grateful mother of three children. She is passionate about building resilience in children, supporting the well-being of parents and helping parents guide their children's behaviour through positive, effective parenting approaches.

The must have app to prepare children for emergencies

9/2/2017

Written by Jessica Cleary, Psychologist

The thought of something happening in our home that requires our children to desperately call emergency services is an awful one. We probably don’t want to think about it too much and hope that it never happens. However, most of us also recognise the importance of equipping our children with the knowledge and skills should the unthinkable happen in our homes.

How confident are you that your kids would know to a) recognise an emergency, b) know how to call Triple 0, and c) give the necessary information to the operator?

Having the ‘know how’ can take the edge off common childhood anxiety and fear about scary things such as burglars, fires or something happening to mummy and daddy. Although we can’t give our children the reassurance that their lives will be all smooth sailing and happy days, we can help them feel confident and capable to act in an emergency if necessary.

To help empower our children to know what to do in an emergency, check out The Triple Zero Kids' Challenge app. This engaging, practical app teaches:

How to recognise when an emergency is taking place
How to use Triple Zero appropriately (including the importance of not prank calling)
How to cope in an emergency
Making decisions through practicing nine safety scenarios (about one hour of game time)

Children get to hear what happens when they call Triple Zero and are taught what to say and do through solving mysteries and playing games. It is suitable for kinder and primary school aged children. The app also includes downloadable resources for teachers and parents. My six-year-old spent close to an hour on at and loved it. We'll definitely revisit it from time to time.

Remember to let your children know that most kids will never have to use Triple Zero, but part of your job as a parent is to make sure that they know what to do just in case. It’s also important to reassure your children that there is an adult close by in nearly all circumstances to help keep them safe.

Jessica Cleary
Jessica is the Principal Psychologist and Director of Hopscotch & Harmony as well as the grateful mother of three children. She is passionate about building resilience in children and helping parents guide their children's behaviour through positive, effective parenting approaches.

Safer Internet Day 2016: How your child can stay safe on gaming devices

8/2/2016

Safer Internet Day is about coming together and promoting the positive effect the internet can have on our lives. There is so much to be learned about our world at the tip of our fingers. While we want our kids to enjoy their time online, we also need them to be safe.

Games are frequently a child’s introduction to technology and often they can’t get enough! As parents we need to keep up-to-date on how to protect our kids and keep them safe while they have fun.

Three Steps for Parents:

Understand the capabilities of gaming devices and how you as a parent can support your child to be smart and safe in their gaming. To help you here are some FAQs. If you are about to buy a gaming device, you can ask these questions at the shop.
Find out about the parental controls available - it helps if you are the one to set up the gaming device so you are in control of these. Gaming devices have parental controls to help parents manage their children’s gaming, for example, to prevent internet browsing or restrict access to age-restricted games.
Talk with your child about safe and responsible gaming and agree on a set of family rules. Perhaps you could agree on rules with your child about how long they are allowed to play for, how they should behave towards other gamers and agree on rules about not meeting up with people they have only met online. See this Family Agreement for more ideas. Remember that gaming devices like the Xbox 360, Wii and PSP connect to the internet, so the same advice and rules for keeping safe online apply.

The UK Safer Internet Centre website, which provided the above tips, is full of e-safety advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet. Such a great resource for families!

Goodbye Stranger Danger: Introducing the Tricky Person

31/8/2014

For many years parents have warned their children about strangers. Although the “stranger danger” mantra is quite catchy, is this the best way to protect our children from people that may hurt them?

Although parents often fear that strangers will abuse their children, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (2005) Personal Safety Survey, only 11% of children victimised sexually were victimised by a stranger. More often, children are abused by someone they know such as relatives, neighbours or family friends.

Child abusers usually begin with the offender building trust and friendship. They are unlikely to fit the strange, lurking man at the park stereotype. And even if a child has not previously met the person, once the person introduces themselves and strikes up a conversation then guess what? This person is no longer a stranger! So you can see how warning children against strangers may not be the most effective way to teach personal safety. What do we do instead? Pattie Fitzgerald, a child safety expert from Safely Ever After suggests we teach children about Tricky People.

Tricky people...

ask children for help (safe grownups go to other adults for help)
tell children to keep a secret from their parents

Teach children..

not to do anything, go anywhere or take anything from ANY adults unless they ask for parent permission first
that if they can’t check with a parent first, then the answer is NO!
they don’t have to be polite if they feel scared or uncomfortable. It’s ok to say NO to a grown up
secrets that make them feel uneasy need to be shared with a parent
everyone's bathing suit areas are private and so are our mouths
if something doesn't feel right then tell a parent

Books to start the conversation about personal safety:

Some Secrets Should Never be Kept by Jayneen Sanders (somesecrets.info)
I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Your Private Parts Private by Kimberley King

With great bandwidth comes great responsibility: Parenting in the digital age

Is the internet going to be your child's sex ed teacher?

The must have app to prepare children for emergencies

Safer Internet Day 2016: How your child can stay safe on gaming devices

Goodbye Stranger Danger: Introducing the Tricky Person

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