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The Internet has opened up a world of
information for anyone with a computer and a connection. Your children will
learn about computers. But just as you wouldn't send children near a busy road
without safety rules, you shouldn't send them on to the information superhighway
without rules of the road. Too many dangers from pedophiles to con artists can
reach children (and adults) through the Internet.
GETTING STARTED
Explain that although a person may be alone in a room using the computer, once
logged on to the Internet, he or she is no longer alone. People using the
Internet can find out who you are and where you are. They can even tap into
information in your computer. Set aside time to explore the Internet together.
If your child has some computer experience, let him or her take the lead. Visit
areas of the World Wide Web that have special sites for children.
CONTROLLING ACCESS
The best tool a child has for screening material found on the Internet is his or
her brain. Teach children about exploitation, pornography, hate literature,
excessive violence, and other issues that concern you, so they know how to
respond when they see this material. Choose a commercial online service that
offers parental control features. These features can block contact that is not
clearly marked as appropriate for children; chat rooms, bulletin boards, news
groups, and discussion groups; or access to the Internet entirely. Purchase
blocking software and design your own safety system. Different packages can
block sites by name, search for unacceptable words and block sites containing
those words, block entire categories of material, and prevent children from
giving out personal information. Monitor your children when they're online and
monitor the time they spend online. If a child becomes uneasy or defensive when
you walk into the room or when you linger, this could be a sign that he or she
is up to something unusual or even forbidden.
TELL YOUR CHILDREN
 | To always let you know immediately if they find
something scary or threatening on the Internet. |
| Never to give out their name, address, telephone
number, password, school name, parents' name, or any other personal
information. |
| Never to agree to meet face to face with someone
they've met online. |
| Never to respond to messages that have bad words or
seem scary or just weird. |
| Never to enter an area that charges for services
without asking you first. |
| Never to send a picture of themselves to anyone without
your permission. |
WHAT YOU CAN DO IN THE COMMUNITY
Make sure that adults monitor access to the Internet at your children's school.
Know your children's friends and their parents. If your child's friend has
Internet access at home, talk to the parents about the rules they have
established. Find out if the children are monitored while they are online. Make
sure that your child's school has an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This policy
should include a list of acceptable and unacceptable activities or resources,
information on "netiquette" (etiquette on the Internet), consequences for
violations, and a place for you and your child to sign. Your family can design
its own AUP for the home computer. If your child receives threatening e-mails or
pornographic material, save the offensive material and contact that user's
Internet service provider and your local law enforcement agency.
If you come across sites that are
inappropriate for children when you are surfing the Net, send the addresses to
online services that offer parental control features or to sites advertising
protection software to add to their list to be reviewed for inclusion or
exclusion. Even if you don't subscribe to the service or own the protective
software, you can help protect other children.
Reprinted from the National Crime Prevention
Council, www.ncpc.org
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