Online Safety for kids

During the next year your kids are bound to be spending more time than ever before surfing
the web. The Internet is a marvellous resource – for research, education, news, leisure and socialising. But let’s not be fooled.

Just like anything where society at large has access, there are some risks, and you may be worried what exactly your children are looking at online.
While the best parental guidance is undoubtedly physical supervision, it’s not always possible to be there, leaning over their shoulders while they surf or chat to friends via e-mail.

So how do you control what they’re viewing without physically padlocking the keyboard?

There are a couple of things that parents can do to protect their children to ensure a healthy
and informative online experience.

Here is a list of top tips for parents to help minimize the risks our children
might encounter online.

Make it a rule to never give out any identifying information like your address, phone number,
photos and school name in public messages such as chat rooms, forums, forms or questionnaires.

Warn kids about the dangers of arranging face-to-face meetings with anyone they meet
online.

Kids should never reply to any e-mails, chat messages, or forum items that make them feel
uncomfortable.

Opening e-mail attachments from people you don’t know is dangerous as these could contain
viruses or spam. Children should never click on any links that are contained within e-mails from strangers as these could lead to inappropriate websites.

It helps to set house rules and guidelines for computer use, setting appropriate times and
durations that your kids can surf the Internet. Discuss your proposed rules with them and make sure that they understand what you mean by it. Post the agreed upon guidelines near the computer as a reminder.

Get to understand the Internet and any services your child uses and, if possible, know your
child's online identity (parents should know children's user IDs, screen names, and passwords in case of online emergencies).

Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can’t see or even
hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent themselves. Make sure your children are aware of this possibility.

Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that seems too good to
be true probably is. Be very careful about any offers that involve you going to a meeting, having someone visit your house, or sending money or credit card information.

Make surfing a family affair, consider keeping the computer in a family room rather than your child’s bedroom.
Internet access can be a valuable educational tool and by making it a social activity, your family will learn together what the Internet has to offer, and enjoy it safely!