-
Keep the
computer in a public/visible area of your house: the kitchen or family room
are ideal
-
Have a
discussion with your child(ren) about:
-
the benefits
and risks of the Internet
-
what they do
on-line
-
what
websites they visit
-
who they
chat with while they are on-line
-
what games
they play on-line
-
music downloads (dos
and don'ts) and copyright violations
-
Establish rules
- Have them show
you their favorite sites, games, and chat rooms
-
Decide whether
or not you will allow your child to download, purchase items, or
subscribe for on-line services/individual websites on the Internet.
Include these decisions in your family internet use rules. Discuss what
is legal and not legal. It is recommended that those
purchasing items online use a credit card
with a low credit limit.
-
Visit some
of the safety sites we have provided;
preview these to select those sites most suitable for your
children's ages/interests
-
Go on-line and
visit the sites your children might visit
-
Google your
children (and yourself) to see if there are any unwanted pictures or information
about you or your child on the Internet.
-
Don't blame
or punish your children if they report viewing something inappropriate on-line.
The way you react will affect what they share with you in the
future.
-
Consider using
a filter or blocking system on your computer to filter unwanted
sites or track the sites that were visited. Most service
providers offer age-related filtering systems.