Parents Tips

Place the computer in a well-trafficked area in the home where the whole family can use it, rather than out of sight in a bedroom. The computer should be set up where it is easy for parents to see the screen and monitor behaviour.

Talk with your children to agree what kind of sites they are allowed to visit. Then check to make sure that they stay within these agreed limits.

Keep your children out of unmonitored chat rooms. The best Internet filtering software blocks access to all chat to keep children safe from the threat of dangerous persons, masquerading as kids.

Chat sites are a great way to meet people online and can be lots of fun. But they are open to misuse, so make sure your children are as cautious of strangers online as they would be in the outside world. Tell your children if they receive any obscene, abusive or threatening messages, they shouldn't respond, but to let you know, and you should consider telling your Internet service provider.

Monitor your child's use of chat rooms and keep them out of those that are unmonitored. As children can be under threat from dangerous persons masquerading as kids in chat rooms.

Inform your child that whatever they are told online may or may not be true.

Take advantage of the filtering software readily available in the marketplace. It can help block access to inappropriate sites related to sex, drugs/alcohol, hate/violence, gambling etc and even chat.

Find out what computer safeguards are utilized by your child's school, the public library, and at the homes of your child's friends. These are all places, outside your normal supervision, where your child could encounter an online predator.

Know your child's e-mail password and tell them to inform you immediately about troubling, unsolicited e-mail. Make sure they understand it is not necessarily their fault if such e-mail arrives.

Let your child know that you are there to talk anytime, about anything they come across that may cause discomfort.

Instruct your child to never do any of the following without your permission:

• Never to arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they meet online. If you do give permission, be sure that the meeting is in a public place and that you or another responsible adult accompany your child.
• Never to give out personal information such as their name, age, home address, school name or location, telephone numbers or financial information.
• Never to download pictures from an unknown source, as there is a good chance there could be sexually explicit images.
• Never to upload pictures of themselves on to the Internet or online service to people they do not know personally.

The Internet is an invaluable tool, but serious dangers need to be discussed:

Online sexual predators: They can be anyone. The Internet allows people to remain anonymous and does not prevent adults from lying about their age or intentions.

Online sexual solicitation: Unprovoked, uninvited, or unwanted requests to engage in sexual activities, engage in sexually explicit conversations, or give personal sexual information.

It’s important to educate your children and teach them how to better protect themselves. The best way to help protect your children is by being involved and talking to them. Feel free to use the acronym quiz on the front as a starting point.

Protect Your Child’s Online Life

• Prepare your children for the online world just as you would for the real world.
• Establish guidelines and rules.
• Know who communicates with your children.
• Learn about the Internet.
• Familiarize yourself with the programs your children are using.
• Consider using Internet filters or blocks.
• Place the family’s computer in a common room, where supervision and guidelines are more easily observed and met.
• Talk about the benefits and dangers on the Internet and help your children make smart decisions while online. This is just as important as limiting your children’s computer time when it comes to safeguarding them while online.
• Explain to your children instant messaging (IM) is only for chatting with school and family friends they know by face and are approved by you. And go over your children’s IM “chat list” with them. Make sure they are able to put a face to every screenname on the list.

When Communicating Online:

Tell your children not to write anything they wouldn’t say in public.

Reinforce people are not always who they say they are when communicating online.

Make sure your children know how dangerous it is to give out personal information such as their name, mailing address, or E-mail address.

Stress the fact it is not safe to get together with someone they first “meet” online.

How to Notice and Address a Problem

Be sensitive to any changes in your child’s behavior or attitude.

Be on the lookout for unknown telephone numbers on your bill or your child’s cellular telephone bill and unexplained gifts your child has received.

Show concern, listen compassionately, and remain calm if your children share any distressing incidents they have encountered while online.

Don’t judge your children or threaten to remove their Internet privileges.

Use the incident to discuss safety rules and reinforce the fact people are not always who they seem to be online.

HELP DELETE ONLINE PREDATORS

Report any disturbing incidents by giving the screenname or E-mail address and any other information known about the online sexual perpetrator to your Internet service provider, local law enforcement, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s www.cybertipline.com.

The majority of children who use the Internet do not get into serious trouble. The Internet is a wonderful tool, but like anything else you need to be careful when using it.

To learn more about Internet guidelines please visit CyberTipLine.com and NetSmartz.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678).