Are You Sharing Too Much About the Kids Online?

Have You Ever Regretted Something You Posted About a Child On Social Media?

When is posting photos and information about the kids you care for on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube too much?

To answer that question you may want to start by asking the parents if you are allowed to share the information or image of the child. That's right, as nannies and au pairs we are employees, not the parents of the children in our care. We must respect the parents wishes when it comes to sharing information and image of their kids on the Internet, even if we think all of our friends and family are safe and kind and would never be a risk to the children or family.

Ask yourself if the parents or the children would be embarrassed or hurt if you posted a comment or image of the kids online. Are you posting something that should remain private? Is what you are posting hurtful to someone else?

Below is a list of information that shouldn't be posted about kids online. Please let me know what I forgot in the list.

Don't post the following about your charges anywhere online:

• Their names
• Their ages
• Their contact information such as their home address, phone number, or email address
• The name and address of the school they attend
• Their parents names
• Don't use a child's name in photo tags or captions
• When, where, and how long the kids and their family will be on vacation
• Photos of the children without parental permission