Keeping Young Children Safe Online

Parents' first instinct may be to ban children from using the internet. However, there are ways to keep your child safe online. Children are growing up with the internet and use it for researching, fun, and talking with friends. By working with your child, you can make their online activities safe.

~Talk to Your Child

This is probably one of the most important safety tips. Talk to your child about the possible dangers awaiting them on the internet. Tell them about child predators, viruses, and even spam. Warn them against talking to strangers. Also, tell them to talk to you before doing anything new online. By being open with your child, they will come to you with questions before doing anything on the internet.

~Monitor Activity

Child internet activity monitors are available to help parents keep up with their child's internet activity. There is a wide variety of monitoring software available with features including: filters, time limits, chat logs, email logs, keystroke recording, and website history. By using the filters, parents can limit the sites their child can visit and even set a time limit for how long a child is online.

Download.com is a good place to search for monitoring software. The average price is roughly $30 for one computer. Just search for child monitoring software and find the one that is right for you and your family.

~Spend Time With Your Child

Besides using software, parents should monitor a child's internet activity themselves. One of the best ways is to use the internet with your child. When your child is online sit with them. See where they go and who they talk to. This is a good way to spend time with your child and monitor their internet activity.

~Restrict Access

Take advantage of user accounts on your computer. Create a restricted account just for your child. You can use the internet options to create a list of safe sites for your child to visit. You can also create time limits for how long you child is logged on.

~A Few More Tips

With all the links, ads, and downloads available everywhere you go on the internet, children should be aware of what to click on. Unless the link or download is from someone they know or on a site the parent has approved, they shouldn't click on them. Pop-up ads and any other sites should never be clicked on. Also, children should never read emails unless they are from someone they know.

By following the safety tips above, your child can explore the internet and stay safe. By surfing safe now, they will continue to surf safely as they get older.