School is almost out and summer break is just around the corner. Do you know what your kids will be doing this summer? How will they be spending their spare free time for the next sixty or so days? Whatever you may or may not have lined up in terms of activities for your children, one thing is certain for most kids - free time offline means more time spent online.This year add a new tradition to your usual end school year routine, along with graduation parties, summer camp registration and vacation preparations. Before this summer begins, talk to your children about staying safe online. A safety conversation is probably the last thing your kids want to have before they are set free for the lazy days summer, but it's important and it won't take long. Pick a day and put it on the calendar so you both stay committed. As a matter of fact, make it a complete safety briefing covering all their summer activities.
· Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable should be shared with a parent.
· Do not believe everything you read on the Internet.
· Children cannot meet people they meet online without a parent.
· Do not share passwords with anyone, including friends.
· Do not share any personal information such as address and phone number with strangers.
· Do not believe everything you read on the Internet.
· Children cannot meet people they meet online without a parent.
· Do not share passwords with anyone, including friends.
· Do not share any personal information such as address and phone number with strangers.
In addition to reviewing these tips with your kids, there are a few things you as a parent might want to consider in order help your child have a more safe and sound summer. These are suggestions and not necessarily appropriate for every age so use your judgment as aparent to determine which of these will be a good fit for your child and how they use the computer.
1. Consider adding a timer to your computer so you can limit the amount of time that your child can spend online when you are not around.
2. Set up a list of approved sites and limit your child's access to only those sites.
3. Set up a list of approved online friends that limit who your child can communicate with online.
4. Setup an activity report. This feature can log your child's online activities including sites they visited and people they communicated with. You can review these reports at anytime and discuss any concerns you have with your child.
2. Set up a list of approved sites and limit your child's access to only those sites.
3. Set up a list of approved online friends that limit who your child can communicate with online.
4. Setup an activity report. This feature can log your child's online activities including sites they visited and people they communicated with. You can review these reports at anytime and discuss any concerns you have with your child.
Look for Parental Controls that offers all the features that are most important to you. AOL's Parental Controls happen to offer all of these features (online timer, activity report, web controls, and email and IM controls) plus a lot more as part of their free package. Having open communication about safety with your kids and putting in place the tools that can protect them is the best combination to ensuring a happy and healthy summer for the whole family.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael@TheSafeLife 6-06-2009 @ 9:10PM
Totally agree with all of your suggestions above for teenage children. For children younger then the teen years, I believe that their Internet activity should be supervised by having a parent in the room while they are surfing. There is just too much out there to allow them to search unsupervised.
www.thesafelife.com
Reply
Keira 6-28-2009 @ 9:07PM
ya.............
Prince 7-09-2009 @ 3:31PM
I agree with you! It's better for parents to monitor their kids on online activity they do. Internet are not also a safe place for everyone. Actually, scammers, hackers and different internet crime are widely spread on world wide web. Even in gaming still internet crime do exist. Check out also some tips here: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1738346
Reply
Michael Kassotakis 12-16-2009 @ 9:34AM
Online in Summer, other holidays and outdoors
Children need to be aware of the basic rules when they .
that have computers with basic security software offer basic safety. The presence of an expert in the can offer additional safety and peace of mind for the parents. Alternatively, they can have a , that has already been configured with security software guidelines and they can use it in these .
Since, it is the summer the were longing for, they have to be safe online and enjoy it . The same applies when they in other holidays and outdoor places
Happy Christmas and New Year.
http://www.e-bcr.com/
Reply
Michael Kassotakis 12-16-2009 @ 9:42AM
Online in Summer, other holidays and outdoors (Full)
Children need to be aware of the basic rules when they websurf.
Summer online places that have computers with basic security software offer basic safety. The presence of an expert in the Summer online places can offer additional safety and peace of mind for the parents. Alternatively, they can have a summer computer, that has already been configured with security software guidelines and they can use it in these summer online places.
Since, it is the summer the were longing for, they have to be safe online and enjoy it . The same applies when they websurf in other holidays and outdoor places.
Happy Christmas and New Year.
http://www.e-bcr.com/
Reply