Advice About Protecting Children

Teaching Your Child About Internet Safety

• Teach your child about internet safety by discussing what can happen to them if they enter chat rooms or engage in any type of online activity that can be harmful.
• If they are old enough to understand, gently discuss the ways in which they can be fooled by untrustworthy people.
• Instruct them never to give out their name, telephone number or address to anyone. This applies to their password as well.
• Spelling out the worst case scenario will give them reason to think the next time they go online. This is vital to their safety. You cannot mince words when it comes to internet safety. You have to be very clear, concise; using an urgent tone at the same time.
• Teach them about emails. Warn them not to open any email if they do not know who it’s from.
• Alert them to instant messages from people they don’t know.
• Check their computer habits on a daily basis. Leave no room for anyone to invade your child’s life. It is important to understand the number of pedophiles who go after children has become a pandemic. All you have to do is watch any of the news programs to see for yourself how easily your child can become a victim.

While computers may be a necessity today; whether at school or at home, they should be used cautiously; carefully, and with the utmost care. Some shareware programs invite hackers to invade your computer and plant or steal information. If you are not aware of how hackers and other criminals can access your system, it is incumbent upon you to research the data.

Before the computer is turned off, clear out the cache to all websites visited. This will prevent further usage of these websites and may deter your child from seeking them out.

Computers may be needed; but they can also be the catalyst which can harm your child in ways you’ve never imagined. It is advisable to protect your children in the cyberworld as well as the "real" world.