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Are Your Kids Safe Online?

© Rachel Webb

The Internet is fast become a tool of everyday life providing an excellent source of information for children as well as adults. Your child can safely enjoy using the internet to access material on any subject to fill a curious mind, entertain or help with homework Parents should encourage their children to feel comfortable using the web, if they are not already, but they should also teach them safety guidelines.

Every newer model computer automatically comes with built in blocking capabilities. Through a password setup, parents can decide just how much language; sex, violence or nudity will be allowed in their home. If someone tries to pull up a site that contains inappropriate content you will not be allowed to enter without first entering your private password. A word of caution though, If a site is "un-rated" you will not be able to view it either and many sites online may be perfectly fine to visit but remain un-rated. There are many products available for purchase that can also aid in blocking content. You can also ask your internet provider about other features that block children's access to adult oriented sites, chat rooms, e-mail or bulletin boards. Just as web sites can offer inappropriate content, there are also an alarming number of Internet predators lurking in cyberspace looking for innocent victims.

Just as parents and schools take the time to teach about stranger danger in your hometown, children need to be aware of strangers online as well. Children feel safe in their own home and often do not comprehend how their safety can be compromised through equipment so similar to a television. Having Internet rules for your home can help safeguard your family against these potential dangers. 1. Parents should learn how to access their computers history. Being able to pull up the most recent previewed sites can help parents to know what sites their child visits.

2. Keep your computer in an open location of your home where parents can easily monitor Internet use. Allow children to only be online when parents are home.

3. Teach children not to give out personal information over the internet like address, school, friends names, age, phone number, etc. Kids love the idea of using a different online username...encourage them to use it always and not give out their real name. Do not allow them post their picture without your permission either.

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