In today’s technology focused society, it can prove difficult to prevent your child from having access to the internet, besides which the internet can be a very valuable tool. It makes research quick and easy but it’s also a cause for concern for many parents. You should always make sure that your child knows the following:
Safety Tips for Children and Teens Using The Internet:
You should never give out your real name to strangers online.
It’s never ok to post your real name online.
You should never give out your address, home town or city to strangers online.
Never tell strangers online what school you go to
Online users may not always be who they claim to be.That handsome 15-year-old boy may not be handsome, 15 or even a boy. Anyone can pretend to be anyone online.
You should never give out your passwords to anyone online.
Never give out your password, people may pose as website representatives and ask for your password. Remember, real website representatives will never ask you for your password. It’s a secret that should only be known by you.
Unless you’re happy with everyone seeing your facebook profile…don’t post it publicly!
Whatever you post online will stay online forever.
Don't say anything online you wouldn't say offline
Protect your privacy and your friends' privacy too...make sure they give their consent before posting something about them or their photo online
Remember:
Tell your parents if you see anything online which has made you feel uncomfortable. Always tell your parents if someone wants you to meet you outside your home.
Leave a chat room if you feel uncomfortable about a certain conversation and talk to your parents about it. It’s so easy for people on the internet to lie about what age they are and who they really are.
Always check with a parent about rules they may have when using the internet, whether you can open e-mails and whether you can use chat rooms.
For parents:
• Always encourage your children to talk to you about what sites they visit and what they do on the internet
• Encourage them to talk about anything they find uncomfortable
• Discuss any concerns that you might have
• Agree on what websites are suitable for your child and which they are allowed access, rather than allowing them free reign to simply browse the internet.
• Help your kids to create a safe username that is vague and doesn’t give away any personal information like gender, age, what school they attend etc.
• Keep the computer in a communal part of the home
• Spend time on-line with your children.
• Learn about parental control tools, protective software and controlled access options and opt for the one which suits you best.
• Check search history for the suitability of sites and chat room
• Check e-mails for younger children
• Have rules for how long the internet can be accessed and when, make sure they understand never to give out personal permission and never to meet an online-friend without permission.
Helping your kids learn online
Even the smallest of kids today, seem to be born using a computer. It can be a cause for concern when your kid’s knowledge of computers seems to exceed yours. How can you make sure they stay same and make sure that what they’re doing is suitable for their age?
It’s a good idea to start by gaining a basic understanding of what they’re doing and be as confident as you can be about the technology. Be involved and try to show them new sites that you have found.
Kids will quickly lose interest and want to find new sites all the time, so by doing a little research ahead of time, you’ll have a new site to show them when they’re ready to move on to something new.
Safety Tips for Children and Teens Using The Internet:
You should never give out your real name to strangers online.
It’s never ok to post your real name online.
You should never give out your address, home town or city to strangers online.
Never tell strangers online what school you go to
Online users may not always be who they claim to be.That handsome 15-year-old boy may not be handsome, 15 or even a boy. Anyone can pretend to be anyone online.
You should never give out your passwords to anyone online.
Never give out your password, people may pose as website representatives and ask for your password. Remember, real website representatives will never ask you for your password. It’s a secret that should only be known by you.
Unless you’re happy with everyone seeing your facebook profile…don’t post it publicly!
Whatever you post online will stay online forever.
Don't say anything online you wouldn't say offline
Protect your privacy and your friends' privacy too...make sure they give their consent before posting something about them or their photo online
Remember:
Tell your parents if you see anything online which has made you feel uncomfortable. Always tell your parents if someone wants you to meet you outside your home.
Leave a chat room if you feel uncomfortable about a certain conversation and talk to your parents about it. It’s so easy for people on the internet to lie about what age they are and who they really are.
Always check with a parent about rules they may have when using the internet, whether you can open e-mails and whether you can use chat rooms.
For parents:
• Always encourage your children to talk to you about what sites they visit and what they do on the internet
• Encourage them to talk about anything they find uncomfortable
• Discuss any concerns that you might have
• Agree on what websites are suitable for your child and which they are allowed access, rather than allowing them free reign to simply browse the internet.
• Help your kids to create a safe username that is vague and doesn’t give away any personal information like gender, age, what school they attend etc.
• Keep the computer in a communal part of the home
• Spend time on-line with your children.
• Learn about parental control tools, protective software and controlled access options and opt for the one which suits you best.
• Check search history for the suitability of sites and chat room
• Check e-mails for younger children
• Have rules for how long the internet can be accessed and when, make sure they understand never to give out personal permission and never to meet an online-friend without permission.
Helping your kids learn online
Even the smallest of kids today, seem to be born using a computer. It can be a cause for concern when your kid’s knowledge of computers seems to exceed yours. How can you make sure they stay same and make sure that what they’re doing is suitable for their age?
It’s a good idea to start by gaining a basic understanding of what they’re doing and be as confident as you can be about the technology. Be involved and try to show them new sites that you have found.
Kids will quickly lose interest and want to find new sites all the time, so by doing a little research ahead of time, you’ll have a new site to show them when they’re ready to move on to something new.
