Using computers and the internet:
Top 10 safety tips
- Consider using internet filtering software, walled gardens and child-friendly search engines. Use your browser's controls as some offer differing degrees of security for each family member.
- Check out what child protection services your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers - do they filter for spam, for instance? If not, ask them why.
- Keep the computer in a communal area of the house, where it's easier to monitor what your children are viewing.
- Tell children not to give out their personal details. If they want to subscribe to any services online, make up a family email address to receive the mail.
- Children love to chat, but make sure they only use moderated chat rooms and encourage them to introduce you to their online friends.
- Encourage your children to tell you if they feel uncomfortable, upset or threatened by anything they see online.
- Involve your children in writing your own family code of acceptable internet use. Remember that what's acceptable for a teenager isn't necessarily OK for a primary school-aged child, so get their input.
- Computer kit is expensive so bear in mind that a child with a laptop may be vulnerable when carrying it to and from school.
- The web's a great resource for homework, but remember to use more than one site in research to get broad, balanced information and always reference your research sources.
- Surf together. Go online with your children and become part of their online life. The key to safe surfing is communication.
Next Steps
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