Keeping Kids Safe

Internet Safety

Since its inception in 1994, the World Wide Web has radically changed our world. Daily, many of us go to the internet to check email, shop, chat with other people, research a topic or for entertainment. The internet also serves as a great resource to our children, offering entertainment and reference information for their school projects. Although most people use the internet for benign purposes, the internet does provide yet another safety hazard for our children, and parents need to be aware and vigilant.

Because anyone can use the internet, your child can be exposed to a wide variety of people. Most will be normal, decent, and harmless, but there are individuals out there who seek to communicate with and exploit our children and teenagers. Teens are especially at risk, since they are more inclined to go online unsupervised and are more likely to participate in chat rooms and bulletin boards. Risks include exposure to inappropriate material, sexual exploitation, and harassment.

The best way to keep your child safe on the internet is to make your child aware of some of the dangers, agree upon a set of "house rules" for using the internet, and be knowledgeable about the sites your child visits and time spent online.

Suggested House Rules for Safe Surfing