This year, some parents are choosing to homeschool their children to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. While this can mean a lowered risk of sports injury and at-school injuries, it doesn’t mean that virtual school is without risks. Homestead students still face:
- Online bullying: Online bullying can include assault, verbal attacks, and escalating levels of violence. It can lead to severe trauma and injuries for students. Even if your child is learning in an online environment, their school or their online groups still have an obligation to keep your child safe.
- Identity theft: With more of us doing more online, online thieves have become savvier about trying to mine the Internet for personal details. Scams are prolific, and your children may be a target. Fraudsters may contact children online and get them to reveal identifying information or convince them to download malware.
- Unsafe products: Your children may now be studying on tablets, phones, desktops, laptops, and other devices. They may be using kitchen equipment to complete science experiments and other suggested activities. Unfortunately, electronic devices can overheat and, in rare instances, explode. They may prove unsafe, as can the activities which school dream up.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep your child safer. Become actively involved in homeschooling so you are aware of the activity and tasks your children are engaged with. This way, you can screen for unsafe activities. You may also want to carefully look over your child’s electronics regularly to make sure that there aren’t exposed wires, cracks, worn wires, or other obvious signs of wear and tear which could prove dangerous.
Finally, consider keeping electronics and schoolwork in a public spot in the home where you can keep an eye on your children and their work. This helps you notice if there is any bullying taking place or any attempts at scams targeting your children. Get into the habit of speaking with your children regularly about what they do online so if someone is harassing them, threatening them, or trying to extract personal information, you can intervene.
If you do notice suspicious activity, take screenshots and gather evidence. If your child has been harmed, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation for a free, virtual consultation with a Homestead personal injury attorney of Homestead products liability lawyer. Our legal team has over 60 years of combined experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of thousands of plaintiffs.