I have heard that the the Internet can be described like a city, such as Vancouver. Parents would not drop their children off and let them fend for themselves. While there are many sights and sounds to enjoy, there are also many dangers. Instead, children need guidance and supervision to get around the city. When children go to Vancouver, there is a responsible adult with them to keep them safe.
To this end, I wanted to take some time and talk about internet safety. I have also posted some excellent links here to help you. There is one site, Netsmartz.org, that is designed for children to learn about internet safety through music videos and other activities. I encourage you to take the time to go to that site with your child. We are at a point where we cannot just keep kids away from the internet, as it is interwoven in our lives. Many children are more even technologically knowledgable than their parents. Therefore, rather than avoiding internet use, we need to educate children (and their parents) about some basic guidelines. Keep that city image in your mind as you evaluate your child's access to the Internet. Would you allow your child to walk alone down the streets of any city with their name, phone number, address and daily schedule stuck as a label to their jacket? Yet that is what we sometimes do without thinking, by allowing our child unrestricted, unmonitored access to the internet. As we teach children about being safe with strangers, being home alone and with matches, we need to give them instruction on Internet safety.
Here are some reminders about internet safety:
1. Computers should be a public area in the home, not in bedrooms. This way you are able to observe all that is happening on the screen.
2. When commenting on a blog, do not use your last name at all. Enter your comments as 'anonymous'.
3. Learn how to check 'history' on Internet Explorer or the alternative on whatever web browser you are using. This will list all the sites that the browser has been to for the past X number of days (you can reset the number of days, I forget what the default is.)
4. Beware of Internet Messenger (MSN) and/or Yahoo Chat or other instant messenging programs.
5. Look for how to set parental controls on your computer and web browser. Talk to your local computer expert if you don't know how to do that.
6. Make sure you sit down and talk about what your child is not allowed to post - basically, they should never give away their full name, daily schedule, phone number or location. They should never meet someone they met on-line without your knowledge and presence.
Here are some links to help you, specifically with blogging:
blogsafety.com
kidshealth.org
familyinternet.com
netsmartz.org
To this end, I wanted to take some time and talk about internet safety. I have also posted some excellent links here to help you. There is one site, Netsmartz.org, that is designed for children to learn about internet safety through music videos and other activities. I encourage you to take the time to go to that site with your child. We are at a point where we cannot just keep kids away from the internet, as it is interwoven in our lives. Many children are more even technologically knowledgable than their parents. Therefore, rather than avoiding internet use, we need to educate children (and their parents) about some basic guidelines. Keep that city image in your mind as you evaluate your child's access to the Internet. Would you allow your child to walk alone down the streets of any city with their name, phone number, address and daily schedule stuck as a label to their jacket? Yet that is what we sometimes do without thinking, by allowing our child unrestricted, unmonitored access to the internet. As we teach children about being safe with strangers, being home alone and with matches, we need to give them instruction on Internet safety.
Here are some reminders about internet safety:
1. Computers should be a public area in the home, not in bedrooms. This way you are able to observe all that is happening on the screen.
2. When commenting on a blog, do not use your last name at all. Enter your comments as 'anonymous'.
3. Learn how to check 'history' on Internet Explorer or the alternative on whatever web browser you are using. This will list all the sites that the browser has been to for the past X number of days (you can reset the number of days, I forget what the default is.)
4. Beware of Internet Messenger (MSN) and/or Yahoo Chat or other instant messenging programs.
5. Look for how to set parental controls on your computer and web browser. Talk to your local computer expert if you don't know how to do that.
6. Make sure you sit down and talk about what your child is not allowed to post - basically, they should never give away their full name, daily schedule, phone number or location. They should never meet someone they met on-line without your knowledge and presence.
Here are some links to help you, specifically with blogging:
blogsafety.com
kidshealth.org
familyinternet.com
netsmartz.org
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