Safe Use of the Internet in Homeschooling

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Internet. After all, I'm writing for it right now. I think the best invention of the last 30 years is the Internet, and I'm old enough to remember life without it. Really.

So it stands to reason that when I homeschool, the internet is a big part of that. It's my co-teacher if you will. You know the old adage about if you teach a kid to read, and how to find information, they will always learn? Well, if you teach them to read and how to Google......you get my point.

A lot of homeschoolers are choosing to educate their children at home out of a desire to be different than the popular culture, indeed to reduce the impact of culture on their family's lives.

So, these people are understandably nervous or hesitant about using a medium that is such an intrinsic part of popular culture.

But using the Internet can be a valuable tool for homeschooling, so this article will share some "best practices" on how to make using the Internet safer and more productive in your homeschooling.

Based on observations, the most common objections to indulging in use of the Internet are:

• Safety from hackers and predators
• The wide availability of inappropriate content
• The misinformation that circulates via the Internet
• The 19th century was a better time than now, and the Internet is from now

Let's start from the top. Safety is indeed a valid concern on the Internet. Your family will want to follow the basic guidelines, such as never providing personal information online; keeping the computer in an open family area; keeping up with what your child is doing on the computer; and talking with your child regularly about safety. There are websites that exist to help family with Internet and computer safety, like this one, GetNetWise.org.

One of the sad aspects of modern life and of the Internet is the inappropriate content, and let's be honest, porn that is waiting one click away for our children to discover. The above website also includes information on how to block that type of content. Most libraries and schools have blockers on their web browsers to filter that type of viewing, and to prevent inappropriate sites from being accessed. The website Kids' Internet Safety has a list of browsers that are safe for kids.

And don't forget talking to your children. Make sure they know what your rules are, why you have them, and what the consequence for breaking a family rule will be. And then still install parental controls on the computer!

One of the awesome things about the Internet is that it is free. Most sites are free to access, and content is freely available, and anyone can post anything. That does lead to a lot of bad information circulating. Stay to reputable sites, like Scholastic, Britannica Encyclopedia, and such when looking up obscure information. Otherwise, websites such as Snopes are helping for sniffing out rumors, myths and facts.

And as far as the modern invention objections goes: yes, the 19th century produced some great people. There are probably principles people practiced back then that we want to emulate or pass onto our children. But we live in this century. Our goal is to raise people equipped to deal with this era with dignity and principles. Used properly, the Internet will enrich your family' s homeschooling venture.