Tag Archives: kids

Some web pages and content on the Internet are not suitable for children. Below is a listing of different steps you can take to help ensure your children and your computer are protected from harmful material or web pages.

1. Talk to your children about the dangers of the Internet and what they should not do while on the Internet. Many times computers also develop problems from children surfing the Internet, clicking on links, downloading web pages and files, and generally being ignorant to the fact that malicious viruses and spyware are being downloaded to the family computer. Below is a basic listing of what you may consider discussing with your children as it relates to your family's computer:

Personal Information - Never give personal information about yourself in chat rooms or  online forms. This includes age, area code, e-mail address, home address, home city, Internet Service Provider name, Instant Messenger name or address, other location related information, passwords, personal web page, phone numbers, pictures of yourself, school name, school grade, school web page, webcam address, and/or zip code.

Never meet someone - Never agree to meet an individual from the Internet without the parents or guardian with you at the agreed meeting location.

Internet Purchases - Never enter an area that costs money, requires a credit card, requires personal information, asks for passwords, and/or requires you hang up and dial another number with your computer without explicit permission from your parents or your parent present.

Downloads - Never accept a file or download from another user that you do not know.

Web pages - Do not visit web pages that are sent to you in e-mail, chat, or instant messengers without your parent or guardian present.

Talk - If your child ever witnesses something that upsets them or makes them feel uncomfortable make sure they know its ok to talk with you.

2. Monitor or browse the Internet with your kids and/or try to keep the computer in an area that is in a open area.

3. Make sure you child is not viewing any web pages they should not be viewing by looking at the Internet browser's history and/or make sure they are not deleting the history in order to hide what they are viewing.

4. Look at the browser address bar or location bar for additional information about what was typed in the browser address bar.

5. If your computer has an Instant Messenger program make sure that their friend list or buddy list doesn't have anyone you do not know of.

6. Users using Microsoft Internet Explorer can help protect their family from harmful material by enabling Internet Explorer Content Advisor.

7. Consider a third party filtering program that will help protect your computer from inappropriate sites. We recommend KidsWatch from Easy Parental Control Software Solutions. This program will block inappropriate websites, create usage time limits, and more.

8. Have your kids sign a pledge and hang it on the wall. Let them know the rules and have them displayed for them and others to read.

You're not always going to be able to hide everything from your kids with today's Internet. Hopefully these pointers will help you create a better environment for your kids as they explore the web.