Children are naturally vulnerable and it is important to know how to keep them and their information safe in a world that looks to exploit the weak and vulnerable. While keeping your children physically safe is an important starting point, it is important to protect their information as well to protect them from identify theft.
As parents, you fill out forms for your children regularly. Often, these forms ask for more information than is necessary. We recommend that you simply opt out whenever possible. These forms are standardized and the information is not always essential. One example is the Social Security number. Whenever possible, avoid writing your child’s Social Security number anywhere that it is not absolutely essential.
Additionally, it is important to always think before signing anything regarding your children. Read all the language on the forms you are signing and ensure that you understand exactly what you are signing.
Gaming and Online Caution
Social media and games with online access are popular today, but it is important to use the internet safely. Teach your children to not give any identifying information to someone online. This includes their address, name of school or sports team, their full name, and other information that might help a stranger identify them.
Safety in a Digital World
While opting out of sharing sensitive information about your children and using care when playing online games and browsing the internet can help, we also recommend that you put together a binder of important information for your child. This should include any medical information that would be helpful in an emergency, including allergies and blood type. You can also get a free fingerprint kit for your kids to have important identifying information on file that is easily accessible in the event that anything happens to your children.
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