Buckle-up on the information superhighway!
The Internet is a great resource for kids, but it can also pose a very real threat to their safety. Here are some steps you can take to protect your child when they use the Internet.
- Educate yourself about the Internet. Even if you don't have a computer at home, your child can access it at school, at a friend's house, or at your public library.
- Make a family agreement for Internet use, including hours of use, and which sites may and may not be accessed.
- Place your computer in a central, open location, like the living room, so Internet use can be supervised.
- Look at the sites your child visits.
- Look into software or online services that filter out offensive material. Check with your Internet service provider (ISP) for any blocking features they might offer.
- Consider installing a children's search engine, like Yahooligans.
- Create a special folder of "bookmarks," or "favorites," for your child on your computer's browser.
- If you have a website, avoid putting your child's picture on it.
- Teach your children to never give out identifying information about any family member. This includes: names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, passwords or credit card numbers.
- Encourage them to tell you if anyone is pressing for personal information.
- Teach your children that talking to a stranger on the Internet is the same as talking to a stranger on the street.
- Talk to your children about potential online dangers such as giving out personal information to strangers. Chat room acquaintances are strangers and your child should never arrange to meet them in the real world unless you give permission and/or know who they are.
- Better yet, if your children are young, steer them away from chat rooms. Older children should only participate in chat rooms that you have approved.
- If your child starts receiving phone calls from strangers, or places calls to people you don't know, get to the bottom of it immediately.
- Tell your children that if someone harasses them on-line, says something inappropriate, or makes them feel uncomfortable in any way they should tell you, their teacher, or a trusted adult.
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