CONGRATULATIONS!
By taking the time to surf
the 'net and look at the sites for children, you are taking the first step
towards making the internet a safer place for your children, your students, or
the children you care for.
|
Never let young children surf the 'net alone. Even if you
can't sit by them, stay within earshot and keep an interest in what they are
looking at. Encourage them to talk about what they see on the web, and to ask
questions if it's something they don't understand.
|
Teach children that strangers on the 'net are just the same as
strangers you meet in person. If Mum (Mom) or Dad doesn't know the person, then
they are a stranger and your child shouldn't be talking to them without
checking with a grown-up first.
|
Your child with almost certainly start to develop
cyber-friendships, which can be very rewarding. Get to know your child's
cyber-friends just as you would their school friends.
|
Talk about what is OK and not OK to do and say on the 'net. It
is OK to give your first name or a "handle" (internet nickname) but it is not
OK to give your last name, your phone number or address or to meet someone you
met over the web.
|
Help children think up their own "handle" or internet
nickname. Some examples are "skate champ", "fairy", "jedi", "piglet" ...
something which is meaningful to them but does not give away personal details.
If you are a teacher, this would make an excellent class activity.
|
Teach kids it's OK to walk away from the computer if someone
says something yucky or scary. And if this happens, they should tell a grown-up
straight away.
|
Discourage kids from using chatrooms. Most kids can't type
fast enough to make it fun anyway.
|
Many of the well known search engines may pull up pornographic
or otherwise unsuitable sites even when the search terms may seem completely
innocent.
|
All of us at IofM.net hope that you and your children will use
and learn from the Internet. It is a vast resource of imformation for children
and will be for a long time to come.
Floyd the Webmaster
Visit Floyd's Online Lessons
|
