Safe Internet Use |
The Safe Use of the Internet The internet is a great tool for youth and children: • Kids can access current news, documents and materials to help with research projects. • Kids can keep in touch with family and friends through email or public message sites. • Kids can make a virtual visit to a country, museum, college, or play games. But the internet can also be a dangerous place; be responsible and nonjudgmental: • Talk to your kids about the potential dangers. • If they tell you about inappropriate occurrences they encountered accidentally use it as a teaching moment rather then a punitive one. • Encourage your children to ask you to check out new sites with them. • Consider using a family safe or childe safe search engine or filter to help prevent access to questionable material. Set the rules, agree on them, and then have them posted by the computer: • How long. • How late. • What website they can and can not visit. • Whether or not they can make internet purchases. Meeting people online: • As a general rule children should never plan to meet anyone whom they have encountered online. • When face to face meetings are appropriate, for example the person is from a nearby school, the meeting should be in a safe public place and a responsible adult should be present. • Children should never give out personal information – use an online name; never reveal their Address, phone, number, or other identifying information. • If an online acquaintance sends your child an email that is uncomfortable or obscene they should tell you immediately. On-line purchases: • Children need to learn to be savvy – free doesn’t mean free. • Encourage an attitude of skepticism towards website offering prizes or giveaways. • Establish guidelines for getting clearance for online purchases including what documentation to keep. Information compiled from The National Crime Prevention Council. |
