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Online Saftey for Children |
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Tuesday, 31 July 2007 18:00 |
Online Safety Guidelines for Parents
By taking responsibility for your children's online computer use,
parents can greatly minimize any potential risks of being online.
Guidelines from the Public Education Department
- Internet Safety Tips for Elementary School
- Internet Safety Tips for Middle School
- Internet Safety Tips for High School
By
taking responsibility for your children's online computer use, parents
can greatly minimize any potential risks of being online. Make it a
family rule to:
* Never give out identifying
information-- home address, school name, or telephone number-- in a
public message such as chat or bulletin boards, and be sure you're
dealing with someone that both you and your child know and trust before
giving it out via E-mail. Think carefully before revealing any personal
information such as age, marital status, or financial information.
Consider using a pseudonym or unlisting your child's name if your
service allows it.
* Get to know the services your child
uses. If you don't know how to log on, get your child to show you. Find
out what types of information it offers and whether there are ways for
parents to block out objectionable material.
* Never
allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer
user without parental permission. If a meeting is arranged, make the
first one in a public spot, and be sure to accompany your child.
* Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are
suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you feel
uncomfortable. Encourage your children to tell you if they encounters
such messages. If you or your child receives a message that is
harassing, of a sexual nature, or threatening, forward a copy of the
message to your service provider and ask for their assistance.
* If a meeting is arranged, make the first one in a public spot.
* Should you become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child
pornography while online, immediately report this to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or
visiting the CyberTipLine online. You should also notify your online
service.
* Remember that people online may not be who
they seem. Because you can't see or even hear the person it would be
easy for someone to misrepresent him- or herself. Thus, someone
indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could in reality be a
40-year-old man.
* Remember that everything you read
online may not be true. Any offer that's "too good to be true" probably
is. Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a
meeting or having someone visit your house.
*
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Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children
(see "Kids Rules for Online Safety"). Discuss these rules and post them
near the computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor their compliance
with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of time your
children spend on the computer. A child or teenager's excessive use of
online services or bulletin boards, especially late at night, may be a
clue that there is a potential problem. Remember that personal
computers and online services should not be used as electronic
babysitters.
* Be sure to make this a family activity.
Consider keeping the computer in a family room rather than the child's
bedroom. Get to know their "online friends" just as you get to know all
of their other friends.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 February 2008 10:22 |
