not . Serve as a role model in this aspect as well . This ability alone can make you and your child stand out in this industry .
Avoid scams . People taking advantage of you will also likely take advantage of your child . Never pay for agent representation or the promise of auditions . Children ’ s photos should be inexpensive , as you will be taking them quite often as your child grows . Additionally , you will never need to pre-order hundreds of prints .
Be honest with your child about the dangers of the world . When age appropriate , teach your child about inappropriate touching , strangers asking favors or offering treats , and other clear warning signs of which she should be mindful . Rather than teaching her to be fearful , help develop a plan of action and teach her to be observant and prepared in case of danger .
Encourage your child not to share her personal contact information with others . Instead , have her share your personal contact information with others .
Encourage open communication . Be approachable and non-judgmental , so that if something is happening with your child that you should know about , she is not afraid to come to you and discuss it .
Let her be a kid and always be there for her . Spend time with your child . Look her in the eye when talking to her . Don ’ t allow phones and electronic devices at the dinner table . Really encourage family time and conversation when you are together . Really appreciate this time you have with her before it ’ s too late and she is all grown up .
CHILDREN ONLINE
Recognize techniques that may be used by predators to set up and deceive their victims . Predators can find targets by piecing together bits of seemingly unrelated information . With just three pieces of personal information , specialized Internet search engines can be used to locate someone anywhere . It is very easy to track someone by connecting the dots . Your child needs to be aware of what she says online and where she is saying it . Teach your child to never share personal information online . Screen and user names , should consist of gender neutral words and should never include any type of personal or descriptive information . Avoid use of combinations of any references to gender , school name or mascot , favorite sport , favorite celebrity , or family names . While this information alone may seem harmless , when matched with other information , it may form a direct path to your child . Also discourage your child from posting photos online . Pictures can be altered to embarrass or humiliate your child or be used by predators to learn more information .
Refuse all requests for secrecy or meetings . This is a clear warning sign for predators who will often lure targets in by sharing common interests . Then , after some communication , the predator will suggest a meeting . Teach your child to think before she types and to remember that people online may not be who they say they are .
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