| In the world today, there are many people who take | | | | controls, you block sites and chat rooms that you feel |
| advantage of children. It used to be that we had to | | | | may be unsafe for your children. Parental Controls |
| worry about predators in parks and playgrounds, and in | | | | Parental controls are a great resource for parents in |
| our neighborhoods. In today's society, we now have to | | | | the fight to keep children safe. However, it is not a |
| watch and protect them from online predators. | | | | parental replacement or babysitter. Studies have |
| Statistics indicate that children who use the Internet | | | | shown that parents who have direct involvement in |
| often are targeted by online predators more often | | | | their child's Internet use have fewer incidents of |
| because they can disguise themselves as same age | | | | predatory harassment. Kid Safe Browsers Because |
| as the child using the Internet. There are however, | | | | of the growing problem of online predators, safeguards |
| guidelines for parents to follow in order to protect their | | | | have been developed. Kid safe browsers are |
| children from the dangerous side of the Internet. | | | | specifically made for children and do not allow certain |
| Protect Your Passwords It is critical that you limit your | | | | keyword searches to be performed. Internet Safety |
| child's access to certain Internet sites. One way to do | | | | Children are extremely vulnerable to Internet predators |
| this is to password protect your computer and under | | | | because they are by nature very trusting. It is |
| no circumstances give those passwords to your | | | | important that you teach them safety protocol. It is |
| children. Most children will share passwords with their | | | | important that they understand that under no |
| friends and it defeats the purpose of having them. | | | | circumstances should they ever give out their personal |
| Passwords will also alert you when your children use | | | | information on the Internet, and explain to them why |
| the Internet, and you can keep a better watch over | | | | these precautions are necessary. It may be difficult to |
| what they are doing. They will not be able to sneak on | | | | explain why these precautions are necessary without |
| the computer when you are sleeping or at work | | | | scaring your child, however, being cautious is very |
| because they will not know what the passwords are. | | | | important when it comes to online safety. Some |
| Monitor Computer Time It is very important that you | | | | children are willful and will give their information |
| monitor what your children are doing online. Tell your | | | | anyway. This is when it is necessary to restrict their |
| child what is appropriate and what is not. Warn them | | | | online activity altogether until they are more responsible. |
| of the dangers of online communication. Sit your child | | | | Pre-teen children should always have a parent present |
| and watch what they do and say online. More | | | | to monitor what their activities are. They may not |
| importantly, watch what is said to them. If you are | | | | appreciate you looking over their shoulder; however |
| suspicious, keep a log of what is said and contact the | | | | their safety should be your number one priority. When |
| local authorities. Block Access Blocking access to sites | | | | it comes to your child and the Internet, there is no such |
| that are not appropriate will go a long way in protecting | | | | thing as being overprotective. |
| your child. Many Internet providers provide tools that | | | | Go To My PC is an Internet service that allows you to |
| will allow you to better control your child's time on the | | | | connect to your home or work PC from any Internet |
| Internet. Using parental controls to protect your children | | | | connected PC. GoToMyPC allows you to visit clients |
| is advisable to all parents. With them, you can set the | | | | and connect to an office computer to do |
| parameters to keep your children safe. With parental | | | | presentations. |