The Internet is a technological tool that allows everybody to work, learn, search for information and have fun, but at the same time it has inherent dangers that should not be underestimated. The internet provides access to diverse and interesting content as well as unprecedented social networking opportunities that strongly appeal to young children as well as adults. Parents should make themselves aware of the internet, the dangers, the safeguards and the sensible precautions that they, and their children, should take in order to protect the whole family. This page is dedicated to all parents, in order to make them aware of the dangers of the internet and assist them in protecting their family.
safety net kids
Show them how to use the internet, how to search, the plethora of useful resources and how much fun it can be but also tell them about the dangers, using true stories as examples. Obviously, these stories must be carefully selected to suit the age and maturity of your children.
that enable “Parental control” on any of the computers that your children can access – not just the designated machine but your PC and work laptop as well! Explain to your children what you have done and why, if they are old enough to understand, but not how you have done it or the passwords involved. They will then understand why they cannot access certain sites. Tell them to tell you if they still find web sites or information that they feel are unsuitable for them, make it an interactive game between you and them so you can understand what they are doing on the internet. Encourage them to seek your assistance, guidance, if they want to join social networking sites, help them with their profile, the selection of a photo, if necessary, and passwords – It is better that you know what they are doing and learn these things with their agreement. If they are not old or mature enough to use some of these web sites then you should explain to them why they should not participate, despite the fact that many of their friends may be allowed.
Avoid isolated internet access.
The worst cases of child grooming, eventual kidnapping and worse have occurred because the child victim has been able to develop a relationship without their parents being aware. For whatever reason the child was left to use the PC totally unsupervised, often alone in their bedroom, for hours at a time, chatting and, in some cases, sending explicit photographs to their “friend”. Putting the PC in a common area, allowing casual but regular, unobtrusive supervision is the best way to protect your children. In this way it is possible to monitor your child’s use of the internet, the web surfing, social networking, chat or IM and also spend some time together on the Internet with them.
Ensure that you communicate and educate your children
about both the perils and pleasures of the Internet. Explain to them, using real life examples, the dangers and the precautions that they should take to safeguard their security. Let them know that they can tell you about anything and encourage them to tell you about sites they feel are unsuitable and any strange requests or approaches that have been made towards them on social networking sites. Remind them that once they post anything on the internet then the world can see it – there is nothing private on the internet and once sent your ability to control who sees it is lost.
