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Tools
of Trust to Keep Your Kids Safe on the
Net
by
Lester
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The
internet can be a fun and educational tool for children and teens.
But it can also be dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken.
Kids
and teens are naturally very curious and imaginative about things,
especially the Internet. Teenagers may be at risk because they often
use the internet unsupervised and they are more likely to participate
in on-line discussions, relationships, and/or sexual activity.
Kids
and parents, visit Safety
Ed International for more information about being safe and staying
safe on the Internet. Clicking on the "parents" link can
also lead you to a sample Parent-Child Internet Agreement.
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Dangers
on the Internet |
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1.
Exposure to inappropriate material:
A child may be exposed to inappropriate material that is sexual,
hateful, or violent in nature, or encourages activities that are
dangerous or illegal.
2.
Physical encounters with strangers: While on-line, a child may
provide personal information or arrange an face to face meeting that
could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family members.
Strangers may gain children's confidence through e-mail, bulletin
boards, and chat areas.
3.
Harassment: A child may encounter e-mail or chat/bulletin board
messages that are harassing, humiliating, or aggressive.
4. Legal
and financial liabilities:
Sometimes children may do things on the Internet that have legal or
financial consequences like giving out a parent's credit card number
or doing something that violates another persons rights.
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Keeping
Kids Safe: 7 Simple Steps
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1
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Talk
to your child frequently
about their experiences on-line. |
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2
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Set
rules about what not to view. Make clear to your child the consequences
that will follow if rules are broken which are not accidental. |
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3
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Explore
the web with your child. |
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4
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Set
rules about what not to view. Make clear to your child the consequences
that will follow if rules are broken which are not accidental. |
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5
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If
your child tells you about an upsetting experience or situation,
don't blame them but rather help him or her avoid the problem in the
future. Remember, the way you respond to the problem will determine
if they will tell you a problem with you next time. |
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6
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Keep
track of any files your child has downloaded to the computer,
and check into who their friends are on-line. |
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7
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Instruct
your kids NOT to provide personal information to strangers without
your permission. This includes things like their name, address,
e-mail address, or phone number to strangers on-line. |
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Internet
Safety 
Tools
of Trust
