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Using computers and the internet

Using computers and the internet

Whether doing research for school projects and homework, chatting with friends or playing games, your child is likely to spend ever more time on the computer as they get older.

While they may understand computer programs, surfing the internet, chat rooms and multi-player games better than you do, they still need your guidance.

The articles and links in this section can help you to direct them towards helpful resources, while helping you steer them clear of the dangers which exist.

Submit your views to the Byron Review [External Site] Opens in new window  - aiming to help parents and their children to benefit from new technologies while protecting them from inappropriate or potentially harmful material

Parents' views

Sometimes speaking to parents and carers who have experienced the same issues as you can be a great way to get valuable advice and information. Read, respond or ask a question in the 'Using computers and the internet' Opens in this window  section of the ParentsCentre forum.

Experts' views

Benefit from the advice and tips given by our experts in the 'Ask an expert' section of the ParentsCentre forum.

Benefits of home access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  • how we know that using ICT from home can help for learning and development
Links by topic
  • links and resources categorised for easy access
Links by age
  • a directory of links to useful websites, categorised by age group
Gaming
  • a look at the console and computer game market
  • a guide to age ratings for games
  • useful links for further information
Online learning communities
  • a guide for parents on how learning communities can benefit your child 
Searching the internet
  • tips on effective searching strategies so you can quickly zero in on useful information
Buying a PC
  • guidance on buying a PC so you get everything you need without wasting money on unnecessary hardware or software
Health and safety
  • what you can do to help your child avoid spending too much time online, and putting too much strain on eyes, wrists and fingers
Family code
  • pointers on developing a set of rules for internet use that you and your child can live with
Chationary
  • terms and abbreviations commonly used in chat rooms to help you understand how children communicate online
Spam and viruses
  • tools and strategies you and your child can use to keep spam and viruses to a minimum
Privacy
  • how to help your child keep their personal details safe and avoid dangers like identity theft
Can I trust this?
  • how to tell whether a website is likely to have reliable, up-to-date information
Copyright
  • how copyright laws affect what your child downloads from the web and how they use internet information.
Plagiarism
  • help your child understand the difference between research and copying from websites
Online bullies and abuse
  • ensuring your child is not subjected to online bullying
Pornography
  • protecting your children from unwanted pornographic material on the Web
Shopping
  • how you and your child can take advantage of internet shopping opportunities without being taken by unscrupulous sellers
Paedophiles
  • eliminating ways for paedophiles to make contact with your children online
Top 10 safety tips
  • how to keep your children safe online
What schools do
  • how schools protect children from online hazards like pornography, bullying, paedophiles, spam and viruses
Internet safety presentation
  • a guide to safe surfing on the net
What has happened to Parents Online?
  • details of the merger of Parents Online into ParentsCentre