The Internet offers children the opportunity to learn new things and to connect with people all over the world. Unfortunately, it also opens them up to potential dangers. Keeping your kids safe online should include a healthy blend of restrictions, discussions and trust. When you have that, you minimize the risks while allowing your kids maximum freedom.
The Internet offers children the opportunity to learn new things and to connect with people all over the world. Unfortunately, it also opens them up to potential dangers. Keeping your kids safe online should include a healthy blend of restrictions, discussions and trust. When you have that, you minimize the risks while allowing your kids maximum freedom.
Potential Dangers
Connecting with strangers–and other people she knows–can make your child vulnerable to emotional attacks and cyber bullying. Some children are not careful about keeping their personal information personal. They may share a phone number, full name or address, which can open them up to a physical attack. Additionally, there are websites on almost any topic out there–and many of those are topics that you don't really want your child to have access to. It's easy for a child to stumble upon something inappropriate, even if they aren't searching for it actively.
Safety By Age
When your young children start to go online, make sure that you monitor their activity by sitting next to them while they play. Encourage kids to use nicknames when playing on sites that ask for a name. As your child gets older, tell her that she shouldn't chat with strangers and that people online aren't always the person that they claim to be. With teenagers, you need to be careful to protect against them accessing pornography and connecting with strangers. Teens may be more likely to meet someone offline.
Parental Controls
You can purchase software for your computer that gives you more control over the computer. You can use special software to block certain websites or types of websites, so that your child can only use the Internet as you see fit. You can also install keylogging software, which records everything that your child types into the computer, allowing you to see if he's been participating in anything dangerous.
Other Techniques
You should also maintain an open discussion with your children about the dangers that lurk online. This can help your child recognize potential dangers and may help her to limit the amount of personal information that she shares. You may also want to keep the computer in the kitchen or the family room, which discourages any bad activity online.
Considerations
You can't protect your child all the time. Your child can access the Internet at a friend's house, from a cell phone, at school and at the library. Your best defense is knowledge and acting like a good role model for your child. He should know your values and act accordingly.
Photo Credit
- computer image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
