The Institute | Internet Safety

This past Sunday, The Institute held a one night Internet safety class aimed at equipping parents on how to protect their homes. Over 70 people listened as pastors and IT specialists discussed the realities of living in the post technological boom and the implications it has on our parenting. 

The class was broken into four main parts:

1. An overview of intentional parenting that involves focusing on real, ongoing communication with your kids.
2. An eye opening awareness of the many dangers that are threatening our homes
3. Practical training on how to best protect all devices within your home. 
4. Q and A session.

A few of the main takeaways were:

• Awareness - As parents, part of protecting your family means you have to be aware of all the devices within your home that can access the internet. Additionally, you need to know the most common threats, how to avoid them, and how to have informed conversations with your kids regarding such issues.
• Trust - In an ever changing world, technology is nearly impossible to stay on top of. Instead of living in fear, as parents, we need to trust that God is in control and we can trust him to redeem every situation. 
• Proximity - We need to be where our kids are and where their devices are. Make an effort to familiarize yourself with the sites they visit, the technology they are using and the machines they are buying. 

Protecting your home cannot be accomplished by attending a class. Leading our families in this issue requires an ongoing commitment to discussing the issues, keeping up with the technology and trusting God through it all. 

In the coming weeks and months we will be providing practical tips for keeping your home safe.

-Jon Wilson, Operations Manager