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Today, the internet is more important than ever before. It seems like each generation of children is more adept at using the internet and navigating the digital world than the one that came before them. Even though the internet provides a wide variety of benefits, it also leaves people vulnerable to numerous threats. This includes children, who may not entirely understand what they are seeing.
In this world, children need to have both parents. That way, they have the necessary guardrails to understand the internet and navigate a changing world. What are some of the threats that manifest on the internet, and why do children need both parents?
The Internet Has Its Place, and Also Its Dangers
There are numerous reasons why children need to have access to the internet. Some of the biggest reasons include the following:
- There are numerous school assignments where children need internet access to research.
- Children often use the internet to communicate with their friends. It can be essential for their social development.
- The internet allows children to engage in numerous extracurricular activities that can accompany their academic growth.
The internet has its place, but it is also dangerous for children. Some of the biggest threats on the internet include:
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is one of the most significant risks of using the internet. There are plenty of situations where children might use the internet, and their parents might not know what they are doing. For example, children can be bullied on social media by people they don’t even know.
Cyberbullying can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Sometimes, parents might not be aware of the situation until it is too late. Parents must keep an eye on what their kids are doing on social media and who they interact with. That way, parents can intervene if their children are bullied.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is also a significant risk when children use the internet. It is not unusual for children to have access to their parent’s credit cards for emergencies. Sometimes, children take advantage of this and might use a credit card to pay for an online game.
Children may not be aware that people online or trying to strip that credit card information and use it for their gain. If children are not adequately monitored online, the family could fall victim to identity theft. Then, a criminal could steal thousands of dollars from the family if they get their hands on that credit card information.
Offensive Images and Messages
Of course, children can also be exposed to offensive images and messages. There is a saying that if someone can dream about it, it is found on the internet. There are plenty of places online that are meant for adults only. Sometimes, children may unwittingly come across something online, and it could leave deep emotional scars.
Parents need to monitor their children’s online activities to prevent this from happening. This might mean instituting parental controls. Furthermore, if children have questions about something they have seen online, they must be able to turn to their parents.
Grooming
Finally, children must be careful online because they could be exposed to people trying to groom them. This means that child predators are engaging in certain behaviors to try to get closer to a child they have met online. The ultimate goal of that person is to take advantage of the child in some way.
Even though children might be adept at using the internet, they are not fully socially developed. They may not realize when someone is trying to take advantage of them. If both parents are involved in a child’s life, there will be more supervision, and children may be less likely to be taken advantage of.
In the online world, there are a lot of dangers that children are exposed to. If both parents are involved, children have the guidance they need.
Children Need To Have Both Parents Involved in Their Lives
Children and families are under more stress than they have ever been in the past. The online world, the coronavirus pandemic, and a challenging economy have created difficult situations for people at all levels of society. Children need to have someone they can turn to for help, which means having both parents involved.
Children will enjoy several significant benefits when both parents are in their lives. They include:
Reduced Risk-Taking Behaviors
One of the most significant benefits of having both parents involved is that children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Compared to children raised by only one parent, children who participate in both parent’s and their lives will be less likely to drink underage, use tobacco products, use illicit drugs, and be sexually active at a young age.
When children avoid these risk-taking behaviors, they can focus on other aspects of their development, setting themselves up for success in the future. Furthermore, children may be more likely to understand what is required to have a successful family in the future.
Better Physical Health
Next, children who grow up in a household where both parents are involved are more likely to have strong physical health. For example, they may be less likely to develop dental problems, physical injuries, and vision concerns. The reality is that when both parents are involved, more attention is paid to the child’s health.
Children might be more likely to go to their preventive check-ups, which include visits to the regular doctor, dentist, and eye doctor. Furthermore, children may be less likely to miss school, develop frequent headaches, or suffer chronic medical conditions like asthma. When both parents are involved in a child’s life, someone is always available to focus on that child’s health.
Stronger Economic Support
Furthermore, children who live in a home where both parents are involved are more likely to have stronger economic support. Financial stress is one of the families’ most common examples of stress. The reality is that children who live in a home with only one parent are far more likely to live in poverty.
In contrast, when both parents are involved in a child’s life, children are more likely to have the financial support they need. This is something that can have ripple effects down the road. When children do not experience financial stress growing up, they can focus more on their academic development. Furthermore, they are less likely to carry significant student debt after graduation.
There are many reasons why children will do better when they live in a house with both parents. Even when families go through a divorce, parents must ensure they are both involved in their children’s lives. If one parent tries to abduct the children or poison the children against the other parent, it only leads to heartbreak.
The Threat of Parental Kidnapping After a Divorce
This is something that happens far more often than many people realize. Sometimes, parents try to take the kids away from the other parent purely out of spite. Furthermore, parental kidnapping isn’t always a sudden thing. It isn’t as though you wake up in the morning and your kids are gone, nowhere to be found.
For example, one parent may give the other parent permission to take the children away on vacation. Then, all of a sudden, they do not come back. There are several examples of situations that could qualify as child abduction. They include:
- One parent violates a court-ordered custody agreement. For example, one parent may prevent the other parent from seeing the kids in accordance with a joint custody agreement.
- One parent may violate a court order that prevents him or her from relocating with the children elsewhere. The court system may decide that the family cannot relocate because it would make it unduly burdensome for the other parent to exercise his or her visitation rights.
- One parent might not return the children to the other parent after his or her visitation has expired.
- One parent may try to hide the children’s location from the other parent and make no effort to allow the other parent to have visitation rights.
These are just a few most common examples of parental kidnapping and child abduction following a court agreement. Both parents need to adhere to the child visitation arrangement after a divorce. It is better for the life of the child.
What Should You Do if You Feel Like Your Ex-Spouse Is Threatening To Take Your Children Away?
If you feel like your ex-spouse is threatening to take your children away, and you have a child custody agreement in place, you should view this as a threat to violate a court order. Some of the most common examples of threats include:
- The other spouse might be threatening to violate my parenting time.
- The other parent might be threatening to keep your children away from you.
- The other parent might threaten to take your children to another state, where it will be difficult for you to visit them.
If that is the case, you need to contact a family law attorney who can help you. This issue should be reported to the Family Law Court, and you must protect your rights. You may also request an emergency allocation order to prevent your spouse from kidnapping your children and hiding them from you.
Do not forget that you must keep a record of your communications with the other parent. This includes letters, emails, text messages, and social media posts. Do not forget that you need to keep color photos of your children. Ideally, these pictures should be recent. Even though we do not want to think about the worst-case situation, there is a chance that your spouse might try to kidnap your children and go somewhere else.
Carol Grinberg’s Abduction of Children in Custody Battle: A Case Study
During a heated custody battle, Carol Grinberg’s absconding with her two children, Tali (aged 11) and Shimi (aged 13), had significant and lasting effects on both the children and their father, Jacob. The violation of a court-ordered custody agreement led to an international search to bring them home safely as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the traumatic experience of being taken away from one parent by another resulted in psychological trauma for both children.
Parental kidnapping affects all members of the family involved. It can have long-term impacts that may not be immediately apparent even after the case resolution. Children might experience fear and anxiety due to separation from one parent and confusion around their parents’ conflicts. Being removed from familiar surroundings and the school can also create a feeling of vulnerability that may take time to heal. Additionally, parental kidnapping can leave children feeling helpless and powerless in an unfamiliar environment with little control over their situation.
It is essential for all parties involved to be aware of the effects that parental kidnapping may have on children so they can provide the necessary support and understanding. Parents should seek professional help if they feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with the emotional aftermath of such an incident. The key is to ensure that both parents provide a safe and secure environment for their children during any period of transition or upheaval. With proper care and attention from both sides, children can recover from their traumatic experiences and move forward positively.
The Carol Grinberg case is an important reminder of the effects that parental kidnapping can have on children. The trauma caused by being taken away from one parent by a narcissistic parent can potentially have long-term impacts on both physical and psychological well-being. It is essential for all parties involved to be aware of the potential consequences of such an act and provide appropriate support to the affected family members when necessary. This may include seeking professional help or providing understanding and compassion during this challenging transition. By addressing these issues with sensitivity, parents can ensure that their children recover quickly and return to everyday life as soon as possible.
References:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parental-kidnapping-divorce_b_7113566
https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-impact-of-parental-abduction-on-children-2705049
https://foryourmarriage.org/parents-and-divorce/commonly-asked-questions/what-is-parental-kidnapping/#:~:text=Parental%20kidnapping%2C%20sometimes%20called,child’s%20custodial%20parent%2C%.&text=If %20the %20noncustodial % 20parent,then it is considered parental kidnapping.
Preventing Child Abduction and Kidnapping After a Divorce
After a divorce, it is still vital for both parents to work together to ensure they are both in their children’s lives. After all, both parents love their children and only want what is best for them.
To ensure your spouse does not try to kidnap your children from you, there are a few steps you can take. They include:
- Make sure you can track your children’s phones using GPS.
- Ensure your children have alternative ways to get in touch with you. For example, you should make sure your children can email you or send you a text message.
- Most importantly, you must maintain an open communication line with the other spouse. Even though the marriage may have ended badly, you should keep in touch with one another to make sure you are on the same page regarding the child custody arrangement.
Unfortunately, there are situations where one parent will still try to kidnap the children and hide them from the other parent. Both parents need to be involved in their children’s lives, particularly when big milestones need to be celebrated. This includes Christmas, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, marriages, and other significant events. Children are always better off when both parents are involved. It is immoral for one parent to try to poison the children against another.
