The ability to surf the Internet and communicate online has opened tremendous opportunities for children to learn and to use a powerful tool. With these opportunities, however, come new concerns for our children’s safety. We all need to be aware that our children are being exposed to information which we consider inappropriate and even harmful and they are vulnerable to predators who can exploit and injure them in ways we never dreamed of until recently. We can deal with this situation in several ways: don’t allow technology in your home, monitor it constantly, or teach children how to stay safe, stressing the benefits as well as the dangers on the Internet.

 

Eliminate the technology

• Every parent has the right to decide what comes into the home environment, but children now have access to online at school, the library, and many friends’ homes. It would be very difficult for a parent to assure children’s safety just by keeping them away from computers.
• Children are using computers as a valuable tool for learning. E-mail and other web technology are revolutionizing communication and information retrieval in this country. There is a considerable valuable for children in having access to computers and to being computer literate.

 

Monitor children’s use

• As with all safety issues, adults need to exercise appropriate supervision and guidance in children’s lives. One of the simplest ways to protect your children is to keep the computer in a common area of the home where children are used to your presence and involvement. A family room, study, or kitchen are places where you can watch what is on your computer and even enhance your children’s use by sitting with them and sharing the experience. A computer should not be placed in a child’s bedroom!
• Too much computer time is as undesirable as too much television. The amount of time for chatting or surfing should be determined by supervising adults. Studies have shown that many children, who have had problems online, have spent many hours regularly in front of a computer and have neglected other activities and friends.
• Parents can limit chat rooms children enter, selecting those which are carefully monitored. They may also choose to block out chatting or the ability to send personal messages (IM’s).

 

Teach children to stay safe with information and strategies

• Children need to know that some people they meet on the Internet are not safe, just as some people encountered in school, home or on the street may not be safe. Tell your children that if anyone or anything makes them uncomfortable they have a right to say "No", to end the conversation and then to tell you or another trusted adult.
• Teach then not to give any personal information about themselves or their family. This includes pictures or other "clues". One pedophile found a boy with only the information that he was playing football for his school and was the tallest kid on the team. It is also best not to give false information. Children sometimes think they can trick the person, but often are tricked themselves. Just as with strangers, it is best not to talk at all with someone who is unknown or who makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Your children need to know that if someone does contact them and send inappropriate, "yucky", or scary stuff, it is never their fault and you will help them deal with it. Many children are fearful about telling parents because they were in a chat room or told something they were not supposed to tell. Ask your children to show you anything inappropriate or to print out a copy.
• Children should never agree to meet people online without your permission. If you do agree to allow your child to meet with an Internet acquaintance, a parent or responsible adult should be present. Pedophiles often pose online as children and are very skillful at lures and tricks.