The Internet is a great place for your child to discover, learn and communicate.
Many parents are fearful that the Internet is full of harmful material and that their kids are in danger by going online. And while it’s true that there is harmful content available on the Internet, this doesn’t have to be a source of worry for you.
Overall, the best thing any parent can do for his or her child is be involved. With the Internet, this means talking to your kids, letting them know their boundaries, but also giving them room to explore and grow. The Internet is full of resources for doing research, playing educational games, communicating with friends and learning more about every imaginable subject. Learning ways to keep your children safe while they use this vast resource can give you the peace of mind you desire.
Inside are some easy steps you can take to make your child’s online experience both safe and fun:
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE ONLINE
Software Isn’t the Whole Answer
Many people think that because they use a “family filter” or other
software designed to keep their kids from accessing offensive content, the problem
is solved. Unfortunately, tests of this software have frequently revealed that
even the most restrictive programs sometimes block less than 50% of offensive
sites, while also blocking many non-offensive ones.
Talk It Out
Many people may ask, “well, if software can’t fix my problem, what
can?” The best way to do this is to address the problem directly by talking
with your children. Ask them what they do when they’re online and what
sites they like to visit. If they use chat programs – such as AOL Instant
Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, or ICQ – ask them who they talk to. If you’re
not Internet-savvy, talking to your kids about these things may be confusing
at first, but it will let them know how you feel on the issues at hand.
Be frank about the types of people that may contact them online. Encourage them
never to give out personal information – like where they live or their
phone number – to strangers they meet online. Tell them that strangers
they encounter online are no different than strangers they meet in real life,
and they should act accordingly.
Set Limits
Be up-front with your kids about the limitations you’re putting on their
computer use. Let them know your concerns about the Internet and discuss with
them what kind of material you feel is and is not acceptable. If you don’t
want them downloading games or other programs, tell them. If you want them to
use the Internet only for homework and research, tell them that too. If you
set time limits for computer use, make sure that you enforce them just like
any other rule.
Rearrange for Security
Sometimes Internet safety is as simple as moving the furniture. Putting your
computer in a well-traveled area, such as a kitchen or living room, rather than
a basement or a study, can be a big step towards being aware of what kinds of
content the child is accessing. If this is not feasible, at least turn the computer
so that the screen faces into the room, rather than towards a wall or into a
corner.
Get Savvy
If you feel that your lack of computer knowledge is what’s holding you
back from understanding the stuff your kids do online, then take charge! Check
out a basic computer guide from the library, or enroll in a beginner computer
class. If books and classes aren’t your style, ask your friends and co-workers
if they, or anybody they know, would be willing to sit down and teach you the
basics of the Internet. You might feel awkward asking questions of a computer
whiz, so try to find someone who you feel comfortable with, and get them to
go slowly.
Watch for Warning Signs
Parents often feel that they have no idea what their kids are doing online,
but if your child turns off the computer monitor whenever you walk in the room,
you find inappropriate material on your computer, or you discover that your
child has been talking to strangers online, you need to start asking some serious
questions. Find out if what they’re doing is merely inappropriate, or
if it could be dangerous, or even illegal.
There are ways of tracking what web sites have been accessed from your computer,
finding out to whom your child has sent e-mail (sharing an e-mail account with
them is a good start) and other such information. If you have a strong suspicion
that your child might be in danger, or might be breaking the law, don’t
hesitate to ask a computer-savvy friend or local computer professional to help
you access these resources.
For More Resources
There are many other family-friendly web resources and books available. Try
using a family-oriented search engine, such as Ask Jeeves (www.ask.com) and
searching for “family web sites” or “kids internet safety.”
See the back of this brochure for more web sites to visit.
Visit these links for more information:
www.parentsoup.com
A wealth of parenting information, including ways on how to keep your child
safe on the Internet
www.childrenspartnership.org
Information for parents about online safety
www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites
700+ family-friendly web sites
www.familyguidebook.com
Lists of sites the whole family will enjoy, as well as information about how
to avoid offensive sites and how to keep kids safe online.
www.getnetwise.org
Offers guidelines and resources for parents, a list of sites suitable for kids,
and instructions on how to report online trouble
www.familyfriendlysites.com
Different searchable resources on a wide variety of topics including the Internet,
family and health.
www.familyfriendlysearch.com
Search engine that automatically searches four kid-friendly and family-friendly
search engines.