Provide Internet safety for your children

Several years ago my son, who was 7 years old at the time, asked me if I visited disneyplayhouse.com as a child. I told him no. Then he asked me if I visited nickelodeon.com. I told him no again. I could see the frustration in his eyes as he asked me, “Well, where did you go?” When I told him that I didn’t have a computer when he was a child, he reacted with a look that simultaneously expressed horror, disbelief, and pity. He walked away before he could explain that we got our first computer when he was three. He, like most teenagers, has never known a world without computers.

The Internet has become a mainstay in most homes. Parents go online to read the news, be entertained, stay connected with friends and family, and many other reasons. Children also access the Internet, often as a requirement for their schoolwork. As useful as the internet can be, it has a dark side. Criminals who prey on children lurk online, counting on their innocence and naivety to be able to take advantage of them. We protect our homes from strangers, but they can sneak in through a computer monitor. Internet safety for children has become a growing concern. However, there are ways to protect children from some of the evils of the Internet.

• Limit time online. While the Internet can be a valuable source of learning, spending too much time online can be detrimental. In addition to creating sedentary children that can contribute to childhood obesity, the more time they spend online, the more likely they are to visit sites where their safety may be compromised.
• Enforce some basic cybersecurity rules, such as: protect your password, don’t open emails from someone you don’t know, and don’t click on unfamiliar links.
• Explain the importance of protecting personal information. Many websites ask visitors to fill out forms online. Ask children to have an adult fill out any form on a website before proceeding. Let them know that they should never give out addresses or phone numbers or any other personal information without first getting permission from an adult.
• Emphasize the importance of caution in chat rooms and on social media. Let them know that they cannot meet anyone they have met online without parental supervision.
• Keep the computer in a shared room where parents can easily monitor usage. Don’t let young children have a computer in their bedroom where the parents never really know what their children are doing online.
• Visit NetSmartzKids.org with your child for printable Internet Safety Pledges and Rules. The site is sponsored by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and focuses on children’s Internet safety.
• Educate yourself. Children are often more tech-savvy than their parents. Do not let this fact be the reason your children are being abused. Learn more about the sites they are visiting. Ask other adults for help if needed.