It’s easy for a parent to think, “Maybe I’ll just keep my kids offline entirely.” This might be the best guarantee for safety, but is it a practical solution? Children can access the Internet from a number of places outside of the home. In addition, the Internet is such a helpful educational resource that denying children access to it could put them at a disadvantage as they prepare for their own future.
The challenges posed by the Internet can be positive. Learning to make good choices on the Internet can serve young people well by helping them to think critically about the choices they will face. Today it's the Internet; tomorrow it may be deciding whether it's safe to get into the car of someone a teen meets at a party. Later it will be deciding whether a commercial offer really is "too good to be true" or whether it really makes sense to vote for a certain candidate or follow a spiritual guru. Learning how to make good choices is a skill that will last a lifetime.
While kids are often more computer savvy than their parents -- they can easily sign up for a game or subscribe to a chat room service -- they don't understand the consequences of revealing personal information to strangers. As a rule, children should not reveal personal information about themselves online without a parent's permission.
Teach your children about some of the risks involved if they reveal their name, address, telephone number and/or email address online and print out some of these general rules for your children to follow as they surf online. You can help children protect their privacy and themselves if you teach them to be
privacy-wise.
Knowledge Is Power-Whoever said “Ignorance is bliss” probably never raised a child. Parents, ever vigilant, sometimes feel helpless when it comes to guiding their children’s Internet use. Yes, it’s likely that your kids are more Internet-savvy than you, but that shouldn’t interfere with your parenting goals. Don’t be intimidated by the apparent complexity of the Web; it’s easier to understand than you
think. If there is anything that you do not understand, at least one of your friends will.
K9 Web is a fast & free
software download that blocks unwanted sites.
Download to your child's computer and give it a
password. It is a very simple program.
