Children and the Internet

With school about to start once more many parents are facing the reality of having to let their children have access to a computer and with that the internet. Schools often encourage computer time as when used wisely they can increase the chances of better grades through research, web searches and the programs currently available, but with the use of the computer comes a new wave of dangers into your homes and the lives of your children.

We all know there are predators out there but there are steps that parents can take in order to lessen the potential problems and dangers to their children and many of them are very simple and little more than active parenting.

The first step is to make sure that the computer used by the children is situated in the family room or living room. Nothing works better than parental presence when it comes to protecting your children. If they cannot hide who they are chatting to, and where they are searching then at least some of the problems can be avoided. This is a vital step, especially with very young children.

Secondly, do not allow your child to use a web cam or upload photographs of themselves. It sounds cruel but any files should be uploaded by a parent. Don't even keep them on the same computer where the children can get to them. Put them on an adults computer, or on a disc locked away. Predators are more likely to target children with photographs.

If you have a family album online. Password it and don't give that password to your children in case they pass it on. Many online predators search free host sites such as Geocities, Face Book, My Space and others looking for pictures of children. So be careful and make sure that you know just who sees your pictures.

Have clear rules of information for your children. Do not allow them to hand out their address, phone number or home town online. Don't allow them to use instant messengers with random chat features, and if they wish to add someone to their instant messenger be certain you know who it is. If your child is unwilling to provide information on that person block and remove them from the list. And have that IM set up in such a way that it stores the chat history. Do random checks, yes they will scream about breach of privacy as soon as they are only enough to throw that one in your face but which would you rather have? A child at home, angry with you, or a child listed as one of the missing? Also,

And remember, teach them that search engines such as Google allow your address to be traced via your phone number, even providing a map to your home.

Be open and honest with your children. Stranger danger is just as real online as it is off-line. Worse in many respects as you cannot tell the age of the person you are chatting to online. Tell them the truth, that there are people online who look for children. You don't hide the dangers of being approached in real life, do not make the mistake of thinking those dangers are any less via online. Know who their friends are and keep up to date on any changes in those friendships.

Keep your children out of chat rooms. Many chatsites are for adults only. They clearly state this on their entrance pages. Moderators on such sites will boot (remove) your child from the site if they find out they are under age. They also often sign up with programs like Net Nanny and Net guard. However not all such sites take active measures against suspected minors and you can easily find out what sites they have been to by checking the history in the browser. Each browser stores history of the sites visited, learn how to use the browser functions and check up on your children.

If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has family guard or protection features. Be aware of them, and make use of them.

Learn to use the computer, don't do what many have done in the past and shrug it off, or rely on your children's knowledge. Take the time and learn how to use the various internet related functions on the computer.

If you have to password any section, use a password your child will not guess. Stay away from common dates or family names. And if you must write it down do so somewhere that they do not have access to. Whatever you do - do not under estimate your child's intelligence, or the speed at which they can learn tricks for the computer. They may be children, but many of the hackers online are under 18.

Invest in a good computer protection system. Virus and firewall. Don't be afraid to ask around from other parents which ones they find are easier. Or your ISP might also help.

There are some common danger signals that you should also be aware of. These include but are not limited to following.

Your child receiving gifts, emails or phone calls from people you do not know.

The Browser or email being closed down suddenly when you come close enough to read. Porn appearing in emails. Your child becoming secretive. Even creeping online or using someone else's computer. Pictures saved of people you do not know, who may be older than your child. Sexually explicit conversations on IM. Conversations with strangers designed to solicit information that you've told them not to hand out.

All though you can't protect them all the time you can do so when they are in your house and if that means arguments, computer time being withdrawn, groundings and the temper tantrums or accusations of you not trusting them, so be it. No one ever said being a parent is easy. But whatever else you do, remember to keep the lines of communication open with your children. At the end of the day doing so might just save their lives.