In recent years, the Internet has opened up countless opportunities for children to explore and develop their creative side. From creating blogs and websites to becoming online marketers and influencers, the lines between childhood and adulthood have blurred.
If you’re a parent who’s eager to see your children develop their skills, why not consider providing them with an income stream? There are many ways to make money as a child online, but you need to know the right approaches to ensure you make the most out of this new world. The following contains some useful tips to help you make the most of your child’s digital talents and turn their creativity into profits.
1. Understand The Risks
Just like with any new venture, you need to understand the risks before you commit to providing your children with an income. There are a number of hazards you need to be aware of, such as scams, hackers, and traffic brokers. If you’re not careful, you could put your family’s financial security at risk. Even more serious is the issue of child labor laws and regulations. In some countries, working for a living until the age of 18 is illegal. You must ensure that your children do not get involved in any commercial activities, as it could potentially land you and your family in legal trouble. Finally, not all online opportunities are created equal. Some may require significant investments of time and money but ultimately may not be worth it.
2. Be Selective Of The Nontraditional Opportunities
While there are many ways to make money online – from taking online surveys to selling your photos on stock photography websites – not all of these opportunities are suitable for your children. For instance, paying to play games or win prizes in online contests can be dangerous because of the potential for addiction. Also, if your children have access to the family computer or other devices, there are many inappropriate websites they might stumble upon. This is why it is important to keep up with software updates and privacy settings, as well as limit their screen time in general.
3. Consider The Benefits
Aside from the obvious monetary considerations, why would you want to deprive your children of an opportunity to develop their skills and have some independence? There are many benefits to providing your children with their own small monthly income, such as allowing them to explore different career options and develop their negotiation and communication skills. Additionally, if you’re worried about your children getting stuck in a digital rut, encouraging them to develop their social skills and get out there and socialize might be a better option than depriving them of income. Finally, giving your children a taste of the freedom of doing something for themselves can be a great lesson for when they grow up.
4. Introduce The Options Slowly
With any new and evolving topic, it’s important to introduce your children to new concepts slowly. The Internet is a massive place and it’s easy for your children to fall into dangerous or inappropriate situations if they do not understand the risks involved. For this reason, it might be best to start by allowing them to explore different types of games on your mobile phone or other device. From there, you can gradually introduce them to more complex tasks, such as building a website or creating a blog. Ultimately, you might want to consider setting up an email account for your children so they can begin to learn how to communicate online. This can also be a place for them to write a diary, keep track of their thoughts and feelings, or simply write a letter to you.
5. Foster Independence
It’s important to remember that your children are not little adults; they still need your help and guidance. Although they may be capable of taking care of themselves now, that capacity can only guide them so far. A big part of parenting is setting limits and ensuring your children do not exceed them. For this reason, rather than completely cutting off all financial assistance, why not consider providing them with an allowance? This will give them the independence to explore different options and help you monitor their progress and any risks associated with this new world.
The point is to provide your children with the confidence to explore new ideas and develop new skills while still needing your help. In these uncertain times, it’s important to keep your family safe and secure, as well as provide them with the necessities to lead a happy and independent life. Some of the opportunities listed above may be worth exploring, but only you can decide what is right for your children.