Surfing Cyberspace Safely

The Internet is filled with opportunities for learning, communicating, and sharing information. The Web also presents risks, especially for children. Take these steps to help your children use the Internet safely:

• Create family guidelines. Review them with family members and post near the computer.
• Locate the computer so that it is visible to all family members, such as placing it in the family room. If the computer is in a child’s room, monitoring becomes more difficult.
• Avoid sharing private information. Make sure children understand the importance of not sharing private information online (age, where you live or go to school). Help them choose a username that does not reveal age, school, or gender. Be sure to explain the reasons of personal and family safety.
• Talk with your children about sites visited or messages received. Encourage them to alert you if they receive a questionable message or feel uncomfortable. Children may feel guilty even if it was not their fault. Make sure they feel at ease discussing concerns with you.
• Stay in the room when your young child uses the computer. This will discourage random Web surfing and promote sharing.
• Surf the Web with your child. Participate in games and searches. Encourage your child to share “cool” sites with you.
• Make sure children understand that people online may not actually be as they appear online and may not always tell the truth.