Internet safety is something very important to discuss with your child before you ever allow them to use the internet. While the internet can be a great place to gather information and learn about the world around you, it can also be a dangerous place for children who may not know how to safely behave on the internet.
Before you allow your child access to the internet, it can be a good idea to go over internet rules with your child. Some important things you will want to cover are:
How Much Time
Is your child only allowed to use the internet for homework, or can they also use it for gaming and communicating with friends? Talk to your child about how much time they are allowed to be on the internet.
What Sites?
Make sure you are very clear with your child’s on what websites they are allowed to visit on the web and which ones they need to stay away from. One important type of site to think about are networking sites like myspace and facebook. The sites are very popular with kids, but also playgrounds for internet predators.
Personal Information
Make sure your child knows not to give out any personal information to people they don’t know on the internet. Personal information includes your child’s full name, phone number, address, where they go to school, and pictures of them and their friends.
One thing I found online is a “Kid’s Pledge” for Internet safety. The kids pledge is a ten item checklist you can go through with your child. The checklist covers the highlights of the types of things you need to discuss with your child. Going through the checklist with them can help facilitate a conversation between you and your child about the internet. You can modify the checklist for your family, sign it, and post it beside your home computer as a reminder to your child while they’re on the internet.