Helping a Child with Internet Safety
Technology allows children and teens to enroll in online learning— but it can also be used by criminals to harm children or steal personal information.
The more time your child or teen spends online, the more risks they will encounter. Getting information about Internet safety and communicating with your child about these issues will help to protect any child enrolled in online learning.
Online safety tips for parents
- Use and inform yourself about the Internet so that you can make sound judgments when questions arise. Take time to navigate the Internet to learn about the technology, content, and other users your child or teen is likely to encounter.
- Visit the websites that your child or teen visits to find out if they have inappropriate content or ask users to reveal private information about themselves. To find your child's most recently visited web pages, look at the history on their Internet browser. Pay attention to the websites that your child and his friends talk about, and the sites that are mentioned on TV and in other media your child interacts with.
- Let your children or teens know that they can come to you with any questions or comments about things they see and read online. Children might stumble upon inappropriate information even if they are not trying to. Don't overreact. Your child should know he can share this information with you without being punished. It's better to educate your children about how to use the Internet safely and to provide guidelines for safe use than to encourage them to be secretive about their online use. For older children especially, ultimatums and bans may backfire since there are many places other than home where children can get online.
- Children and teens are sometimes bullied online or via e-mail. If your child receives an abusive, threatening, or inappropriate message from another student, inform the school or your child's teacher. Be aware of the dangers of this form of bullying and ways to help your child. BeSafeOnline has information for parents and teachers who want to decrease bullying by promoting responsible use of e-mail, text messaging, and Internet use by students.
- Put your child's or teen's computer in an open area of your home and position the screen so it can be seen by others. Using the computer in the living room, family room, or kitchen will encourage your child to practice good judgment and decrease the temptation to explore inappropriate content.
- Look for signs that your child or teen might be using the Internet inappropriately. Does your child hide or change web pages when you walk into a room? Are people you do not know calling to talk to your child, such as someone he or she might have "met" online? When you are around, does your child indicate to people online that you are in the room or he is not free to talk? Your child might have legitimate reasons for wanting privacy as he or she interacts with friends but this can also be a sign that your child is engaging in behavior that he knows is risky.
- Let your child or teen know that you want to protect them, not punish them. Communicate and work with your child so that you both understand and are comfortable with appropriate and potentially dangerous Internet activities.
- Practice age-appropriate supervision. A young child, ages 2 to 7, needs close supervision when using the Internet. It's recommended for parents to select web sites for their children and set up bookmarks to make it easier for them to find. Limit e-mail and text messaging to a list of friends and family you have approved. Use filters to limit accidental access to unsuitable material.
With children ages 8-11, emphasize safe behavior and be actively involved in their online activities. Investigate discussion boards, online clubs, or other communities that your child wants to join. Consider using filtering software to block inappropriate websites.
Teens ages 12-18 use the Internet as an essential tool for their schoolwork and projects. Continue to discuss Internet safety with them, even as it becomes less possible for you to supervise their access. Remind your teens to be thoughtful about the photos and information they post on blogs and social networking sites, or send via e-mail and text message. Help your teen to understand the ethics and laws related to privacy, software piracy, hacking, and other issues.
