Parents Strongly Urged to Closely Monitor Children's Internet Usage
Article Offers Tips to Parents on Keeping Kids Safe Online
November 01, 2007
The good, the bad, and the ugly. These adjectives all accurately describe what's available on the Internet. While the World Wide Web is full of useful information, unfortunately it is also jam-packed with information that is inaccurate, unsuitable and sometimes dangerous for children. That's why it's so important that parents understand the dangers of the Internet, as well as closely monitor the online activity of their children. The following "10 Tips for Parents" was taken from www.PointSmartClickSafe.org.
TIP 1 (Stay
Secure)
Learn about what parental controls, firewall and antivirus
protection you have. Check the website of your Internet Service
Provider, computer manufacturer and operating system (e.g.
Microsoft Windows Vista or Apple's Mac OS X). Good overviews can be
found at GetNetWise and
the National
Cyber Security Alliance.
TIP 2 (Ask an
Expert)
If you don't feel knowledgeable about Internet issues, talk
to your school or public librarian. They have a wealth of
experience and resources to share.
TIP 3 (Check What
Rules Your Child's School Uses)
Check with your child's school and learn about their "acceptable
use policy" for Internet use. You may want to adopt those rules for
online activities at home.
TIP 4 (Stay
Informed)
Sign up for e-newsletters or discussion forums to keep up to
date on Internet safety issues. Cable in the Classroom's
Media Smart e-News, Common Sense Media's Newsletter
and Blog, iKeepSafe's
Newsletter are good examples.
TIP 5 (Be a
Teacher and a Role Model)
Teach your children about media literacy and Internet
safety.
TIP 6
(Develop Rules for Behavior with Your Child)
Together with your child develop and prominently post a set
of rules and expectations for online behavior near the computer. Common
Sense Media and NetSmartz
Workshop have good examples.
TIP 7 (Set Time
Limits)
Set rules about when and for how long children can be
online
TIP 8 (Stay
Involved)
Put the computer in a public place where you can monitor
your children's online activities.
TIP 9 (Ask
Questions and Show You're Interested)
If your children are creating web pages, videos, blogs or an
online profile, ask them to show you what they are doing and
explain their thinking in doing it that way.
TIP 10 (Make
Age-Appropriate Choices)
Limit younger children to using child-friendly search
engines like Yahooligans!/Yahoo
Kids!, Cable in the
Classroom or other educational Websites created for
children.
If you have any questions regarding using or monitoring the Internet at home, please feel free to contact WPS Technology Coordinator Vicki Jones (443-4332 ext. 3226) or WPS Media Specialist Dave Privett (443-4332 ext. 3232).
Parents Strongly Urged to Closely Monitor Children's Internet Usage
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