Internet Safety for Children

Dear Soothsayer,
First off, I enjoy reading your website and wish you would post daily as I like to read it on my lunch break. Also, I’ve noticed that you’ve had many young teenagers write in and I have to say I have some concern about this. I wonder, where are their parents when they are using the computer, there seems to be a growing number of pedophiles using the internet to lure children away from the protection of their home, where’s the supervision?

Thanks for your thoughts,
PC concerned

Dear PC,
Thank you for your appreciative comment. I would love to post a letter daily, but unfortunately I don’t get a constant stream of email, at least not yet. But, as soon as I do, I’ll definitely post daily.

As far as computer safety, I completely agree. As with all things, parents must teach their children the proper way to use a computer, what’s acceptable and what’s not, and then of course observe and discipline if needed. My top rules for parents when it comes to the internet and their child’s safety are:

1. Talk to your children. Be honest and tell them all of the positives and negatives of the internet. Explain what is acceptable and what is not. Explain what your expectations are of your child.

2. Discuss the dangers of talking to strangers (on the internet and in life) and thoroughly discuss the dangers of providing personal information on the web. Once it’s on it is always on!

3. Set rules and put them in writing. You can post the rules next to the computer and/or make it a contract between you and your child, don’t forget to mention the consequences if the rules are broken. These rules should include the amount of time spent on the computer, the specific time they are allowed on the computer, and what the permission is when they are at a friend’s house.

4. Use the parental controls on the computer and block out sites and key words you do not want your children viewing.

5. Keep the computer located in a central area of the house, someplace where you can observe what your child is doing.

6. Make sure the computer is accessible only with a password; make sure the children do not know the password.

7. Be interactive; use the computer with your child.

8. Be a parent; check the history and view the pages your child has viewed. If your child has broken the contract, carry through with the discipline; do not turn a blind eye.

9. Discuss your rules with the parent’s of your children’s friends.

For more information regarding this issue, cyberbullying, and other internet/technology issues, I highly suggest visiting Netsmartz.

~A Soothsayer