KEEPING KIDS SAFE ON THE INTERNET
Taken from an article in “Exceptional Parent” Sept. 2002
• PLACE YOUR INTERNET-CONNECTED COMPUTER IN A HIGH-TRAFFIC AREA
• SHOW GENUINE INTEREST, PARTICIPATE, COMMUNICATE
Talk to your children about both the benefits and dangers of the internet. Describe scenarios
in which a child could be exposed to inappropriate resources or communications.
• TALK ABOUT NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES ON THE NET
• CONSIDER USING TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS TO CONTROL ACCESS
• REVIEW YOUR BROWSER HISTORY
• REVIEW YOUR CREDIT CARD BILLS
• DO NOT POST PHOTOGRAPHS AND NAMES OF YOUR CHILDREN ON FAMILY WEB SITES
• CONSIDER HAVING YOUR CHILDREN USE FICTITIOUS NAMES WHEN THEY COMMUNICATE IN PUBLIC FORUMS ON THE NET
• ESTABLISH FAMILY RULES FOR INTERNET USE
The specific rules you establish should depend upon the ages of your children, the level of control you wish to exert, and your family values. Consider adopting a set of rules similar to My Rules for Online Safety, published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm). Tailor them with your children and post them near the internet-connected computer in your home. For example:
• I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address and telephone number or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
• I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
• I will never agree to get together with some I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and take my mother or father along.
• I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
• I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do, I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
• I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day and length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
• KEEP PERSPECTIVE
Taking steps to keep our children safe from individuals who do not have their best interests in mind provides an opportunity to share with our children facts about the real world and to reinforce the values we hold dear in our own families.
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