Top 10 Internet Safety Tips
Keeping Our Kids Safe Online
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Consider using internet filtering software,
walled gardens and child-friendly search
engines. Use your browser's controls as some
offer differing degrees of security for each
family member.
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Check out what child protection services
your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers
- do they filter for spam, for instance? If
not, ask them why.
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Keep the computer in a communal area of the
house, where it's easier to monitor what
your children are viewing.
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Tell children not to give out their personal
details. If they want to subscribe to any
services online, make up a family email
address to receive the mail.
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Children love to chat, but make sure they
only use moderated chat rooms and encourage
them to introduce you to their online
friends.
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Encourage your children to tell you if they
feel uncomfortable, upset or threatened by
anything they see online.
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Involve your children in writing your own
family code of acceptable internet use.
Remember that what's acceptable for a
teenager isn't necessarily OK for a primary
school-aged child, so get their input.
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Computer kit is expensive so bear in mind
that a child with a laptop may be vulnerable
when carrying it to and from school.
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The web's a great resource for homework, but
remember to use more than one site in
research to get broad, balanced information
and always reference your research sources.
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Surf together. Go online with your children
and become part of their online life. The
key to safe surfing is communication.
