Dear Parents and Guardians,
The internet can be an amazing source of entertainment and education, but it also puts your child at risk for seeing inappropriate material or becoming a target of exploitation. Allowing kids to go on the internet without your guidance is like allowing your child to explore a major city on their own. Kids need help navigating this world. You can’t watch your kids every minute, but you can use strategies to help them benefit from the internet and avoid its risks. Here are some tips to keep your kids safer online:
Start a dialogue in your family about internet use. How much time should kids spend online? Which websites are appropriate for kids and which aren’t? What is reliable information online? Have kids show you the websites they like to visit.
- Encourage your kids to talk to you if they come across information online that makes them feel scared, confused or uncomfortable.
- Never give out personal information (first and last names, address, phone number, school, age, etc.) online without checking with you first.
- Kids should NEVER share their passwords with anyone except for you. Doing so opens them up for cyberbullying and puts your computer at risk for hackers and viruses.
- Email addresses and screen names should never reveal identifying information (i.e. deerfieldfan@aol.com or janedoe13@gmail.com).
- Don’t respond to email, instant messages or attachments from people you don’t know without checking with you first.
- NEVER meet someone that you’ve met online in “real life” without checking with you first.
- Think before you type. You can’t take back things that you write online.
- Be very careful with pictures and videos posted online. Make sure there is no identity revealing information in the pictures, and remember that pictures and videos can be used by others in a way that you didn’t intend.
- Consider having an internet safety pledge (there are examples posted in the links listed below).
- Consider supervising computer use (have computers in public areas of your home, not in kid’s bedrooms).
- Limit access to webcams and chatrooms
Additional internet safety links:
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