Posted by Joyce on August 31, 2008 under Internet Safety For Kids | 
Internet safety for kids means protecting your child from the violence, explicit language, pornography, sex, nudity, gambling, predators, viruses, spyware, and adware and WHEW! Anything else that might be out there!
These are some of the threats that your kids can encounter while on the Internet. And since you can’t monitor them all the time, you need to find ways to teach your child how to protect themselves from these threats. Here are some of those ways:
1. Teach them to keep themselves safe and secure. Talk to them about personal security while using the internet. Tell them to refuse giving any personal information to people they meet online. Talk to them about avoiding filling out membership and survey forms that would entail them to state their personal information.
2. Set up house rules to limit your kids’ internet access. Talk to your kids about what these rules are and have them agree to stick to them.
3. Discourage them from making personal profiles using online networking websites that can be viewed by anyone. Sites like MySpace create venues for online predators to access different personal information for their predatory purposes. If your kids already have profiles posted on the web, make sure that you know what pictures and personal information they post.
4. If your kids are young enough to use the regular web browser, download web-browsers that are made for kids. They filter bad websites and limit your kids’ access to pre-approved webpages.
5. Tell your child to avoid peer-to-peer (abbreviated P2P) file-sharing softwares. This is because viruses, spyware, and adware can freely enter your computer through these softwares.
6. Use internet filtering software to block bad websites from your computer. Anyone, including you or your child, can stumble upon adult websties.
7. Attend to your kids immediately if they report any uncomfortable online exchanges they have encountered.
8. If they enter chat rooms, tell them to stay in the public room so that the chat room administrator can monitor your conversation. Tell them to ignore private messages.
9. Tell them not to agree to meet personally with strangers they only meet online.
Finally them to approach you whenever they have any doubts on the emails and messages they receive, window popups that appears, and forms they were asked to fill-out. It will keep your child the safest they can be on the web. Internet safety for kids can be this simple!
Posted by Joyce on August 27, 2008 under Children's Internet Safety |
Children’s Internet Safety
Internet Safety Rules to Establish with Your Children Children’s Internet safety is best applied when you set some rules up for them to follow when online. Whether it’s a school project, emailing friends or poking around a chat room, children on the Internet go many places.
The ability to make new friends and communicate with current friends is exciting for children. However, it is important to take a closer look. Did you know that sexual predators often use the internet to target unsuspecting children and teenagers? Anyone can hide behind a computer and create a new identity. This is one reason why it is important that you, as a parent, set rules for your child when they use the Internet.
First, let your child know that they cannot give out their personal information online. There is absolutely no reason why they should give anyone their address or phone number online. Make sure that your child knows that just because the person they are talking to online claims to be a 16 year old boy or girl, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.
Two, it is also important to prevent your child from posting personal pictures or videos of themselves online. However, this is something that many children do. Make sure they are portrait type photos, those that show head and shoulders only. If your child wants to post pictures or videos online, be sure to at least review them yourself first.
Three, make sure your child knows that they are not allowed to meet, in person, with anyone who they meet online. This is important, as this is how many children and teenagers fall victim to internet predators and sexual predators. Yes, the person who they are talking to on the computer may be who they say they are, but are you willing to take that chance? If an in person meeting does take place and you know about it, attend with your child. Let multiple people know where you are going and who you are meeting with. Be sure to do so in a public place.
Four, set rules for your child on their use of internet chat rooms and social networking websites. For starters, if you don’t want your child to use these things, don’t let them. If you do, sit with them when they first sign up and negotiate the site yourself. Then set time limits they can be inside these rooms. For example, make sure you are in the room if your child is using an internet chat room. Five and finally, make sure that your child knows that all of the rules you set concerning internet use apply to all computer use, not just on the computer at home.
Posted by Joyce on August 26, 2008 under Kids Internet Safety |
Kids Internet Safety
Its a big issue for parents. Its a big issue for us.
We’re parents, too. The Internet is something that is very powerful. Its a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Not only are there games, but also news and information in real time, from anywhere around the world.
The Internet can also be dangerous. You’ve heard all the stories. A little education and knowledge will help both you, your child and your family be safer as they play online. The Internet is a place where kids that go snooping around alone and ignorant of safety can get into real trouble. This is why it is very important for you to teach your kids about the wonders and dangers of the Internet.
Talk with them about the whole thing, the big picture, in terms that are appropriate for their age. By teaching your kids to keep themselves safe on the internet, you are ensuring not only their safety, but the whole family’s safety as well. Any information a child shares over the Internet is public and accessible by anyone at anytime.
Teach your kids never to share any personal information with anyone online. These are things like:
-full name
-address, city and state
-a phone number
-where they go to school
-their passwords
Criminals online piece together bits of private information in order to help them track potential victims down. Of your information is not shared, you can stay away from being even a “potential” victim. Passwords should always be kept private as well, even to close friends. Knowing your password make it much easier for perpetrators to get what they want without the risk of getting caught. Your close friends run the risk of slipping when not paying attention, so keep them only to yourself.
Make these five short “Privacy Rules” just that, a rule anyone at home follows that wants to play on the web. And again, talk with everyone as to WHY these rules can keep them safer online, today!
