Internet Safety - Guidelines for Parents
Adapted from safeteens.com and isafe.org
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Internet Safety - Guidelines for Parents |
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Adapted from safeteens.com and isafe.org |
The internet is a powerful tool for your kids! Just as we teach our kids about bicycle safety when they learn to ride, and they are required to learn the "Rules of the Road" before they learn to drive, we need to equip them with appropriate guidelines for safe use of the Internet. As parents we need to be reasonable and set realistic expectations for our kids, and help them navigate online safely and effectively.
One of the best things you can do to promote safe use of the internet is to
keep the computer in a public area.
Talk with your kids about what they can and cannot do online, and encourage your kids to come to you if they encounter a problem. If they tell you about someone or something they encountered, your first response should not be to blame them or take away their Internet privileges. Work with them to help avoid problems in the future, and remember - your response will determine whether they confide in you the next time they encounter a problem. Help them learn to deal with problems effectively. Learn about how kids use the internet - Ask your teens to show you what's cool. Have them show you great places for teens and fill you in on areas that you might benefit from as well. Make "surfing the net" a family experience. Use it to plan a vacation, pick out a movie, or check out other family activities. Make this one area where you get to be the student and your child gets to be the teacher.
Some good guidelines:
· Keep identity information private! Teach kids not to post their picture, full name, address, phone number, or school name. Avoid mentioning local events.
· Email and Instant Messaging - if you kids use these features, you should know what their passwords are. Kids should NOT RESPOND to email or messages from people they do not know. If they receive an IM (instant message) that is inappropriate, they should take a screen shot for reference and then log out and let an adult know.
· Social networking sites - if your child has a page on one of these sites, ask to see it. Give them a day to have it ready for you, and then review what they have posted. Read the site usage guidelines with them and make sure they understand nd comply with them. For instance, MySpace users are supposed to be at least 14. Be sure your child understand that anything posted online is out of their control - it can be copied, saved, and forwarded.Check out some of the many internet safety web sites! They have great ideas for talking to kids about safety, and some feature interactive learning activities.
Some helpful sites are:
http://www.isafe.org
http://www.safeteens.com/
http://www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm - for kids
http://www.wiredkids.org/
http://www.fema.gov/kids/on_safety.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety2.htm - for kids
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm - for parents
http://www.getnetwise.org
http://www.netsmartz.org
http://www.childnet-int.org
http://www.commonsense.com
· Check Out Blocking, Filtering and Ratings Applications
There are services that rate web sites for content as well as filtering programs and browsers that empower parents to block the types of sites they consider to be inappropriate. Generally these programs can be configured by the parent to only block the types of sites that the parent considers to be objectionable. Whether or not it is appropriate to use one of these programs is a personal decision. If you do use such a program, you'll probably need to explain to your teen why you feel it is necessary. You should also be careful to choose a program with criteria that reflects your family's values. Be sure to configure it so that it doesn't block sites that you want your teen to be able to visit, and remember that they may have access to the internet at school, friends' houses, or the library, so knowing how to surf safely is still important. Filtering programs are not a substitute for good judgment or critical thinking. With or without filters, children and their parents need to be "net savvy" and communicate with each other
· Go beyond simply addressing safety issues and learn with your child! The Illinois Math & Science Academy has a great web site, the 21st Century Information Fluency Project, http://21cif.imsa.edu/, which addresses finding information on the web, evaluating what you find, and using information ethically. This site is a must-visit for learning about the web for research.
Remember that your library is a great source for electronic information, with online databases, recommended sites, and librarians who can help you find exactly what you're looking for. If you would like more information specifically on cyber safety, contact Ellen Cutter at ellen.cutter@riverforestlibrary.org, or 708.366.5205 x314.