KEEP KIDS SAFE ONLINE:
Communication & Supervision
We now have enough experience with the online environment to offer some sensible tips. The first and best piece of advice is to talk openly with your child about your concerns. Discuss the kinds of material that should be off limits and why. Spell out the reasons why the child must NEVER give out any personal information about anyone in the family without talking it over with Mom or Dad first. No posting of pictures. No phone numbers or addresses. No information about when the parents are gone or where they work. Even if their new friend is just another youngster online, kids need to understand that there are lurkers and hackers who might see what they post in chat rooms and even in email.
Another important issue is where to locate the computer. The best bet is to put it in a common area, one where family members routinely wander by. Putting the computer in the child's room may seem like a great way to encourage a budding techno-genius, but the trade-off is that it can be awkward and intrusive if you want to check on the youngster's online activities.
If you want to see where your browser has been pointed, you could visit the section on clearing your computer, mirroring the advice offered there to tell which sites your youngster has visited. But why play detective when communication may be the better bet? Kids can also be sophisticated about hiding their digital tracks, so the goal should be for your to talk frequently about the risks without unduly scaring them. Periodically, ask them to give you a tour of the chat rooms they visit and the sites that they enjoy.
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