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