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Your kids can learn
a great deal of information on the computer. Kids can also communicate
with friends, play games, and get homework assistance. There
are some things you can do to keep your kids safe online. Teaching
your children this basic information can protect them from harm
and dangerous individuals. Children
should never give out personal information such as their home
address, name, the name of their school, or telephone number
in a public forum such as chat rooms and on bulletin boards.
Your kids should
be advised to never send out pictures of themselves or friends
and family without permission from parents.
Messages and posts
on bulletin boards that are obscene, suggestive, threatening,
or makes your child feel uncomfortable should be ignored. Your
child should be warned to refuse offers of cash, gifts, and
invitations to meet strangers. If a child receives any messages
that offers something for nothing or contains inappropriate
information, a parent should be notified immediately.
Children should be
taught to never arrange for an in-person meeting with an online
acquaintance without prior approval from parents, and the parent
should accompany the child to any meetings that are arranged.
Kids should spend
time getting to know online friends just as they would friends
from school or your neighborhood. Online friends can become
great friends, but kids should be aware that any person they
encounter online could pretend to be something they are not.
It is not unheard of for sexual predators or criminals to assume
the personality of a 12 year old child, when in realty they
are looking for personal information about potential victims.
If you or your children
become aware of any inappropriate material online such as pornography
or indecent material involving children, contact your local
law enforcement immediately.
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