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El Paso Directory - Safe Internet For Kids

Parents, your child has a 1 in 6 chance if they are in the internet they will be approached by a predator. The internet is and can one of the best resources for your child, but it can also be the most dangerous. First and foremost be sure in a public space in the house. Not only does it keep everyone in touch with what your little angel is watching/doing, it also affords you the chance to interact and discover new things together.

Never give out personal information. And by personal information, I mean name, address, school, parents’ names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. Some websites ask for this information, but it’s not mandatory. If it is, your child should ask you before he types any of it in and you need to have that discussion with your child so they know that they shouldn't provide this information. And you should make sure that that information is not publicly available. If your child gets an email that says that he won an iPod, Xbox or anything that sounds unbelievable and that all he/she has to do is fill out the form, you need to let him/her know that it’s a scam. Most kids are delighted to win the iPod and will give away any and all information. They don’t have the same life-experience as you and you need to communicate this to your child.

You need to know the websites that he or she is clicking on. If your child is very young, he won’t be surfing from one place to the next so quickly. He’ll need your help. Try helping them build a favorites page list so that they will not be tempted to look on their own and find something inappropriate. When your kids get older, they should know that the Internet is public and that wherever they go online, they’re leaving a trail that you can follow – so he/she shouldn’t go anywhere that he/she knows is not right. If your child is being secretive, ask him/her where he/she goes online. This should be an ongoing dialogue. You don’t let them watch any TV program they want, so why would you let them run wild on the Internet without your input? It does good to periodically go over and see what they are doing. Get involved.

Stay involved and participate! Not just for safety, but for a shared experience. There is so much to discover online: music, science, travel, games, art. The wealth of information and experience available could have a profoundly positive influence on you and your kids. It's amazing that just taking a few minutes to overlook what they are doing can stop any problems before they start.

There are also lock boxes or programs you can put on the computer (similar to tv) to control what, where and who your child visits, communicates with on the internet. Here are just a few;