Online safety of your kids
A long time ago, people were proud to be able to go around the world in eighty days. Nowadays it’s possible just in a few minutes – but only online. Internet offers so many good things, while the bad ones are carefully hidden.
Internet has a great variety of advantages. On the other hand online surfing can create problems, especially if you are a kid.
Before you allow your children to go online without your supervision, point out all the negative consequences to them. If you’re not sure how to start, here are some ideas on what to discuss with your kids.
1. Encourage your kids to share their internet experiences with you.
2. Teach your kids to tell you, if online activity makes them nervous for some reason.
3. If your kids visit chat rooms, online video games that require a login name, explain to them how to choose the name and make sure it doesn’t reveal any personal information.
4. Insist that your kids never give out your address, phone number, school or park in which they like to play, or other personal information.
5. Teach your kids that the difference between “right” and “wrong” is the same on the internet as it is in real life.
6. Explain to your kids how to respect others online. Make sure they know that rules for good behavior don’t change on internet.
7. Insist that your kids respect the property of others online. Explain that making illegal copies of music, video games, or movies is just like stealing it from a store.
8. Tell your kids that they should never meet online friends in person, because those friendships are usually not what we think.
9. Teach your kids that not everything they read or see online is true. Encourage them to ask you if they’re not sure.
10. Control your children’s online activity with internet software if you think it’s necessary. With it you can monitor the sites your children visit, and therefore prevent negative consequences.
