Free Online Child Protection Software for the Web

The Internet provides many open doors for our children. They can speak with their friends, take care of virtual pets, learn more about their favorite actor, actress or singer, play games, get homework help...and more-the list goes on. While the web provides many opportunities for children, we still must protect them from entering into websites that could lead them into porn, possible identity theft, or even online predators. As parents, we also need to limit the time they spend on the Internet as well. Spending time outdoors and reading are still some of the most important activities that children should do.

According to statistics provided by K9 Web Sources, one in fourth youth each year have their picture exposed to unwanted places and people. Also children who were aged from 8-16 years old -(9 out of 10 children), have all viewed pornography at some point during the process of doing their homework or while spending time online. With these frightening numbers, it is very important that your family computer have some type of protection so that your child has less of a chance of becoming a statistic.

Since there is so much that a child could possibly come in contact with, how are we as parents able to protect them from all of it? The web offers available free software in which we can download onto the computers that our children use. The software blocks out harmful websites, limits the time spent on the web, and offers child safe games for them to play too.

One type of free software that you can download onto the family or your child's computer is K9Web Protection. It can block up to sixty different web content categories from your child. You get to pick which categories are blocked that will meet the specific needs of your child or family. The software also allows you to block certain websites in which you wish not to be visited online too. For specific keywords that could target a potentially harmful website, you can also type in URL specific words to be blocked. Another great feature of K9 is the time restriction tool. K9 also allows you to set time restrictions on the computer. It allows you to decide which part of the day that the computer can be used. Once the time arrives for the computer to be off, a password key that you have chosen will come up on the computer. Be sure not to share this password key with other members of the household who you wish not to have access to the computer during the "off time." To keep in close contact of the activity that is present on the family/child's computer, K9 also lets you view an Internet activity report. This way you can monitor any new or different websites that you can question if the need arises.

Another type of useful free software for children is the KidRocket Kids Browser. The KidRocket browser is an application that is safe and actually blocks out the entire Internet for children. It only lists websites that are top-rated and 100% child safe. It runs on the "K.I.S.S." approach (Keep it Simple Stupid). Your computer must meet at least the minimum requirements: Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP or Vista. It also must have Internet Explorer 5 or higher too. Some of the kid safe websites that are listed include Crayola, PBS Kids, Sesame Street, Disney, Barbie, Nickelodeon and Hot Wheels. There are also a variety of games and jigsaw puzzles for your child to play. Some of the games include Pac-Man, Asteroids, Tic Tac Toe and Simon.

If you ever have any other questions about the safety of children online, you can always read or refer to the Children's Internet Protection Act. It explains exactly what is harmful and unlawful to children on the Internet and how it is important for schools to also have Internet protection in place for computers that have access to the web.

While it may be difficult to try to keep your child away from harmful websites and threats on the Internet, there is software and applications that assist us in doing so. It is best to always stay in contact with your child and be sure that they know it's okay to approach you if they should have any questions or concerns about anything. Keep communication lines open, and always monitor activity use on your child's computer. Do make sure that your child has other interests outside the computer such as reading, outdoor recreation or school clubs or sports. It is important that children have plenty of social interaction, exercise for good health, and plenty of mental stimulation.

K9 Web Protection Website

K9 Internet Sources and Statistics

Kid Rocket Browser