Parental Internet Safety Tips
By Jeremy Shick | December 19, 2008
Parental Internet Safety Tips Copyright (c) 2007 Kelly Liyakasa
Like most families in 2007, your family probably has at least one computer in the home, if not more. Many children and teens have workloads in school that require excessive PC-usage. Alright, so even if your kids use the World Wide Web for chatting and downloading games, they still need to be protected. There are plenty of parental internet control software. options available to concerned mom’s and dad’s, but it’s still wise to heed the following tips.
Protecting Your Children:
• Be aware of your children’s friends and if they begin mentioning someone they don’t hang out with at school or at home.
• Limit their Internet use. Giving each child an hour a day can lessen the chances they’ll run into dangerous situations and you’ll increase family time.
• Most parents know the best way to find out is to “ask.†If you have concerns or advice to give, ask your kids for 10 minutes to chat.
• Don’t berate them. You remember what it was like to be 13 and craving independence. Allow your pre-teens and teens to make some of their own decisions, while you coach them.
• Remind youngsters not to give out any personal information without consulting you first.
• Change allotted computer-time depending on how old your child is. Have a teen? They obviously need more Internet time than an eight year old.
• Check for warning signs: If your 11-year-old knows how to clear the browser cache and sets up her own passwords, you might want to keep an eye out.
• Try parental control software products. They don’t guard against everything, but they are a great start.
For you frustrated parents who don’t have any idea how to combat Internet predation and trash-sites, it is well worth your time to consider parental control software. 6StarReviews.com notes that a leading software product, Content Watch’s Net Nanny 5.5, completely logs all Internet activity and downloads.
What exactly can the infamous Net Nanny do? It blocks inappropriate websites, logs instant messages, and can monitor everywhere little Johnny’s been on the Web from any place. While you may have some reservations about essentially spying on your kids, catching your child in risky situations early-on can prevent a world of future hurt.
Topics: Child Internet Safety, Software | No Comments »
Internet Safety Program Combats Online Predators
By Jeremy Shick | December 19, 2008
Every year, one in five children receives a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet. With millions of children in chat rooms and sending instant messages
, parents must take action to protect their kids.
A recent survey of young people revealed the following statistics about how parents are supervising their children’s online time: More than half of young people (53 percent) say their parents never ask them about whom they are talking to on the Internet, and 55 percent say their parents never surf the Internet with them.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create NetSmartz (www.netsmartz.org), an interactive, educational safety resource for children ages 5 to 17. Parents, guardians, educators and law enforcement personnel can access age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the Internet.
Here are some Internet safety tips for parents:
* Keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.
* If children use chat or e-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they “met” online.
* Know who your children are exchanging e-mail with, and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise. Limit chatroom access to child-friendly chat sites.
* Let your children show you what they do online. Visit their favorite Web sites.
* If you suspect online “stalking” or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law-enforcement agency or call the CyberTipline at (800) 843-5678.
With the support of Microsoft, BGCA also has implemented the Club Tech program in more than 3,700 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. Club Tech’s goal is to “technology enable” every club by providing software, curriculum and computer training for staff and youth.
New technology centers are becoming available online every week, teaching basic computer skills and Internet safety.
Topics: Child Internet Safety | No Comments »
Child Internet Safety for Home Schoolers
By Jeremy Shick | December 19, 2008
The internet is a wonderful tool, making resources readily available to a larger number of people than ever imagined, making communication with people all over the world an easy task, and making online homeschooling a viable option for home education. The World Wide Web, like many great resources, is open to abuse and it is important to instruct our children in proper use of the internet for their benefit and safety.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, “The single most important thing to promote [internet] safety - talk to kids about the rewards and risks of internet use.” Open communication with your child is a great way to keep them safe and aware when they are online. As a parent, what can you say to your child?
First of all, be careful when you choose your search engines. You may be surprised to find out that there are some that are designed especially for kids and others that have child-safety options. Secondly, instruct your child to tell you or another adult present as soon as he or she comes across anything online that creates discomfort or unease. These sites can be documented and blocked, ensuring that they will not be visited again. There is software available that helps filter inappropriate web content. Thirdly, it is important to instruct your child to refrain from disclosing any personal information when chatting online or posting on a blog. There are people online that specifically target young children, requesting this information, so beware! Finally, make searching the internet a group effort whenever possible. Helping your child search the web can be beneficial for the both of you.
Learning about internet safety so you can best protect your child does not stop here. There are great resources available online. For example, NetSmartz offers information on how to be safe on the internet. This tool is great for children and parents alike. CyberTipline is a place to report inappropriate online solicitation or unsuitable content specifically geared towards children. There is also a site called “Don’t Believe the Type” which instructs you and your child on how to avoid dangerous situations on the web and how to read warning signs.
The internet is a great tool and can aide in education in many wonderful, blessed ways, so let’s be smart about internet safety!
Topics: Child Internet Safety | No Comments »
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