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KIDS CIBER SAFETY
Cyber safety for Kids Online-A Parents' Guide
The Internet has opened up a world of information for anyone with a computer
and a connection. Your children will learn about computers. But just as you
wouldn't send children near a busy road without some safety rules, you shouldn't
send them on to the information superhighway without rules of the road. Too
many dangers from pedophiles to con artists can reach children (and adults)
through the Internet.
Getting Started
Explain that although a person may be alone in a room using the computer, once
logged on to the Internet, he or she is no longer alone. People skilled in using the
Internet can find out who you are and where you are. They can even tap into
information in your computer.
Set aside time to explore the Internet together. If your child has some computer
experience, let him or her take the lead. Visit areas of the World Wide Web that
have special sites for children.
Controlling Access
The best tool a child has for screening material found on the Internet is his or her
brain. Teach children about exploitation, pornography, hate literature, excessive
violence, and other issues that concern you so they know how to respond when
they see this material
Choose a commercial online service that offers parental control features. These
features can block contact that is not clearly marked as appropriate for children:
chat rooms, bulletin boards, news groups, and discussion groups -- or access to
the Internet entirely.
Purchase blocking software and design your own safety system. Different
packages can block sites by name, search for unacceptable words and block
access to sites containing those words, block entire categories of material, and
prevent children from giving out personal information.
Monitor your children when they're online and monitor the time they spend online.
If a child becomes uneasy or defensive when you walk into the room or when you
linger, this could be a sign that he or she is up to something unusual or even
forbidden.
Tell Your Children ...
Always to let you know immediately if they find something scary or threatening on
the Internet.
Never to give out their name, address, telephone number, password, school
name, parent's name, or any other personal information.
Never to agree to meet face to face with someone they've met online
Never to respond to messages that have bad words or seem scary or just weird.
Never to enter an area that charges for services without asking you first.
Never to send a picture of themselves to anyone without your permission
What You Can Do In The Community
Make sure that access to the Internet at your children's school is monitored by
adults.
Know your children's friends and their parents. If your child's friend has Internet
access at home, talk to the parents about the rules they have established. Find out
if they are online
If your child receives threatening e-mails or pornographic material, save the
offensive material and contact that user's Internet service provider and the Police.
If you come across sites that are inappropriate for children when you are surfing
the Net, send the addresses to online services that offer parental control features
or to sites advertising protection software to add to their list to be reviewed for
inclusion or exclusion. Even if you don't subscribe to the service or own the
protection software, you can help protect other children.
www.cybersitter.com or www.netnanny.com
Cyber safety for Kids Online-A Parents' Guide
The Internet has opened up a world of information for anyone with a computer
and a connection. Your children will learn about computers. But just as you
wouldn't send children near a busy road without some safety rules, you shouldn't
send them on to the information superhighway without rules of the road. Too
many dangers from pedophiles to con artists can reach children (and adults)
through the Internet.
Getting Started
Explain that although a person may be alone in a room using the computer, once
logged on to the Internet, he or she is no longer alone. People skilled in using the
Internet can find out who you are and where you are. They can even tap into
information in your computer.
Set aside time to explore the Internet together. If your child has some computer
experience, let him or her take the lead. Visit areas of the World Wide Web that
have special sites for children.
Controlling Access
The best tool a child has for screening material found on the Internet is his or her
brain. Teach children about exploitation, pornography, hate literature, excessive
violence, and other issues that concern you so they know how to respond when
they see this material
Choose a commercial online service that offers parental control features. These
features can block contact that is not clearly marked as appropriate for children:
chat rooms, bulletin boards, news groups, and discussion groups -- or access to
the Internet entirely.
Purchase blocking software and design your own safety system. Different
packages can block sites by name, search for unacceptable words and block
access to sites containing those words, block entire categories of material, and
prevent children from giving out personal information.
Monitor your children when they're online and monitor the time they spend online.
If a child becomes uneasy or defensive when you walk into the room or when you
linger, this could be a sign that he or she is up to something unusual or even
forbidden.
Tell Your Children ...
Always to let you know immediately if they find something scary or threatening on
the Internet.
Never to give out their name, address, telephone number, password, school
name, parent's name, or any other personal information.
Never to agree to meet face to face with someone they've met online
Never to respond to messages that have bad words or seem scary or just weird.
Never to enter an area that charges for services without asking you first.
Never to send a picture of themselves to anyone without your permission
What You Can Do In The Community
Make sure that access to the Internet at your children's school is monitored by
adults.
Know your children's friends and their parents. If your child's friend has Internet
access at home, talk to the parents about the rules they have established. Find out
if they are online
If your child receives threatening e-mails or pornographic material, save the
offensive material and contact that user's Internet service provider and the Police.
If you come across sites that are inappropriate for children when you are surfing
the Net, send the addresses to online services that offer parental control features
or to sites advertising protection software to add to their list to be reviewed for
inclusion or exclusion. Even if you don't subscribe to the service or own the
protection software, you can help protect other children.
www.cybersitter.com or www.netnanny.com
Copyright © 2006 Metropolitan Security & Investigations All Rights Reserved
