By Mallory Mattingly
Living in the digital age requires resilience as kids confront issues like cyberbullying, and parents are instrumental in instilling that virtue in their children.
Approximately 58% of children admit that, at one point, they were cyberbullied, according to a report from Annapolis, Maryland, police department. Can kids overcome those hurtful words? Yes.
In a new blog post, the Bark Team shared with parents what it takes to raise digitally resilient children.
“Digital resilience is the ability to recover from online challenges, whether it’s a hurtful comment, aggressive peer pressure, or exposure to misinformation,” the post read.
As kids continue to connect online, they will experience “online stresses.” Signs your child is dealing with an online stressor include:
- Withdrawal from friends or family
- Mood swings after screen time
- Obsessive checking or complete avoidance of social media
- Disrupted sleep or eating patterns
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
So, how can you help your child be digitally resilient?
Step 1: “Teach Critical Thinking”
Help your child to ask questions before they decide to click, share or even comment. Questions can include “Who made this?” and “Why did they make this?”
It is better to help your child spot misinformation and scams earlier in their digital life rather than later. A study from Stanford University found that older “students have trouble judging the credibility of information online.”
Furthermore, “According to the FBI, online sextortion scammers are heavily targeting teen boys ages 14-17,” Bark Technologies shared in a post on Instagram.
Teaching them critical thinking skills early will keep them safe online later on.
Step 2: “Open a Dialogue”
This simply means that you and your child are able to have a safe space to talk about “what they see and feel online.” This can be as simple as a casual check-in during a quick car ride or even at dinner time.
Step 3: “Encourage Screen Breaks”
Let’s face it, we all need time away from our devices. Kids, however, may not realize they do. So, it is important to help them understand that “taking breaks, setting boundaries, and prioritizing real-world connection” from digital devices can show “balance” in behavior.
Step 4: “Use Real-Life Examples”
It is important to help your child understand the negative effects and consequences of online bullying. Through the use of real-life examples, your child can learn about “digital behavior, empathy, and consequences.”
This happens by asking questions like, “What do you think they could have done differently?” giving your child the opportunity to learn “perspective without lectures.”
Every day, children are exposed to an online world that threatens to harm their wellbeing. Through the use of critical thinking, talking through online issues, taking screen breaks and using real-life examples, parents can help their children become digitally resilient.
Read Next: 5 Signs You’re Addicted to Social Media and How to Fight It
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