A Resource Page for Parents and Students

Thinking About Online Safety

The virtual world and the real world are one and the same, so let's take a look at some of the precautions that not only help safeguard our kids, but instil a positive attitude toward the amazing technology of the Internet and an enjoyment of its benefits.

1. Maintain open lines of communication by pre-screening chat room conversations and browsing sites. Ask your kids where they go and what they do online. “Think about safe search choices and credible sources of information”
2. Sign an Internet Family Safety Contract with all Internet users within the home. “Think about how you conduct yourself online and establishing rules of behavior for the family.”
3. Remind your children (and yourself) not to reveal information over the Internet – including sensitive financial and personal information onto Web sites, in e-mail, surveys, forms and chat rooms. Photographs and web cams can be used to sexually exploit or manipulate young people. “Think about how you reveal information about yourself, could someone trace you to your home?”
4. Teach kids that they must be very cautious meeting a person they have met on the Internet. Get to know your kid's online friends, not just their offline friends. “Think about safe and healthy virtual world and real world meetings.”
5. Teach kids about proper e-mail rules. Learn how to use the “Bcc” mode when sending or forwarding e-mail to ensure that address books are not exposed to the world. Watch for e-mails from senders you do not know and watch out for e-mail with friendly subject lines. When in doubt use the telephone. “Think about being responsible for the messages you send.”
6. Teach kids not to gossip or forward jokes of a sexual or racial nature. Explain to kids that they should never write anything in e-mail that they would not want the world to read. “Think about how you portray yourself in cyberspace.”
7. Computers with Internet access should be placed in a high-traffic area of the home – but know that kids are often away from you when they are online. Kids need to know that the same rules apply on the Internet even when away from home and the same rules apply whether on computer, cell phone or PDA. “Think about transferring real world ethics into the virtual world.”
8. Monitor long distance telephone bills for unknown telephone numbers, and watch for gifts and letters coming to the home from strangers. “Think about child predators and learn how they operate.”
9. Select a family-friendly Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some ISPs offer guidelines for parents, provide clear help in setting up parental control features, provide kids-only areas, block child pornography from their newsgroup servers, help find interesting kid sites on the Internet and respond quickly to reports of online abuse. “Think about using resources available in the community and asking questions to learn more about technology.”
10. Use protective software including anti-virus and firewall protection, spy-ware and Spam blocker. “Think about using tools for protecting your family and investments.”
11. Take a course on using the Internet or have your child teach you. “Think about using the Internet as a family activity.”

Good Sites for Parents and Student's	Internet Safety Games for Kids
http://www.nassaulibrary.org/	http://www.netsmartzkids.org/tunes/index.htm
www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents	http://www.internetsuperheroes.org/
http://www.wiredkids.org/	http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/yp/
http://www.safekids.com/
http://www.cybertip.ca/
http://www.techdictionary.org/
http://www.dibdabdoo.com/
http://www.ajkids.com/
Web-Wise Sites to Help Educate & Protect Yourself
http://www.bewebaware.com/
http://www.netsmartz.org/
http://www.getwebwise.ca/
http://www.phonebusters.com/
http://www.bugnosis.com/
http://www.cyberpatrol.com/
http://www.netnanny.com/