Its a rite of passage, like your child’s first sleep over or walking home from school without help- at some point your kids will ask for and need an email account. But with an email account comes a how-to on proper do’s and don’t’s on sending out emails. Just like everything else in life, its a learning curve.
When opening an email account for your kids, its important to go over some basics. Hopefully these few suggestions will make the transition easy and slick.
~Just like on social media, sharing too much is NOT a good thing. Set your child down and let them know that its not okay to pass around their email address to everyone. Only allowing a few contacts should suffice. Also, make sure your child knows its not okay for their friends to share their address either, like signing up for various services or random accounts.
~All emails will be forwarded to YOU the parent/guardian. This way your child knows whatever comes into their inbox will be read by you.
~Sometimes emails aren’t from real people. Auto-responses or error messages don’t need a response.
~Never send an image or text that you wouldn’t want grandma to see or read. This is just a safe rule across the board- from emails to texting to social media.
~ Teach them the difference between CC (carbon copy) and BCC (blind carbon copy) and how there are appropriate times for both.
~They don’t need to keep ALL of their emails. They can delete them and clean up their inbox.
~Make sure they use proper spelling, sentences structure and punctuation. Emails are a little more thorough than texting so its okay to spen a little more time on them. Remind them that you will get and receive everything they send and get in their inbox- so use kind language.
Emails are a great way to communicate, and with a little guidance your kids can be a pro!
KidsEmail is a great tool for any first time email account. Not only are our safety settings user friendly, they protect your child from unseen dangers. A Kidsemail account is a great way for children to learn how to use technology in a safe environment, where parents can give their kids a little freedom while maintaining safety and control. Try it today for free!