Hi, can you please post this anonymously for me. Thank you.
My kids all have their own iPads. Their time is limited. I have set restrictions on games, videos etc to limit what they have access to. I have all the iPads linked to my phone, plus do regular checks to make sure they are being used correctly.
Well I have just come across something upsetting and I would like advice from other parents how to deal with this. I don't just want to punish, but want to educate the dangers of what this can bring.
I found in "recently deleted" folder of photos, that my 6 year old boy has made videos of himself. These videos are of himself in the bathroom and in his bedroom, showing off his private parts. He shows how his penis works, by urinating on the floor, and has done close ups of his penis and butt.
What would you do in relation to punishment? And how can I educate a 6 year old on the dangers of what he has done? I have taken his iPad away, and have banned him from using his siblings devices, as well as my phone.
I am also feeling pretty bad, because I now realise he does not have the maturity to be able to judge right from wrong, and feel that i have given him too much responsibility that he is obviously not ready for.
Thank you
4 Replies
Hi, you could look at the daniel morcombe keep our kids safe campaign for help. Dont feel bad at 6 he cant possibly understand the dangers of the internet and making media, he cant really know because we shield him from the awful things that happen in the world, thats why youre there to monitor. So well done for doing a good job mama.
Honestly Id be making a no iPad in a bedroom/bathroom rule.
When you give him back access to his devices tell him that losing them wasn't punishment, that it was just until you could gather the resources you needed to teach him about safety when it comes to using them. This should go for all of the kids too, don't just focus on him, he happened to be the first but it could have been any one of them so educate them all at the same time. You have done the right thing so don't feel bad, the reaction might have been a bit knee-jerk but hell, the fright would have been enormous!
Talk to him about it, tell him what you found, give him a chance to explain and just make sure noone asked him to make that video because you just never know. If nothing like that has occurred, put a ban on ipad use, like a week or two. Then when he gets it back only let him use it in open shared family area like kitchen, loungeroom etc. Dont kick yourself thats its happened, praise yourself for finding it and the lesson you can teach him about technology and body safety. Thanks for reminding us parents to keep checking everything, including deleted folders.