Internet Parents’ Safety Guide
This guide is about behaviours and practices rather than software.
By now you probably are already aware of the most basic practices, but for a refresher click here.
Know your child’s real world first. Who are his or her friends? Who do they hang out with at school? Which friends have computers and internet connections.
Talk to the parents of your children’s friends. Agree on common ground rules for web use when the kids are at one another’s’ homes. Ask them to review this site. Inform them your child is not permitted on any computer that does not have basic parental supervision. See if they are open to using the Contract with their own children.
Does your child have his own web page? Does she have a MySpace page? Sit with your child and record all of the places they have posted their own content. Visit those pages and review the Contract with them.
Get him or her their own independent web page for greatest security and the cool factor (LunarPages).
What instant messaging networks has your child joined? Know the screen names of your child and his friends.
What online game communities is your child part of?
Review the Secure Surfing Toolkit with your child and ensure either they understand how to use each part of the kit or that the software chosen will operate properly without user intervention.
Some things, such as PasswordMaker for Firefox need to be actively used if they are to provide protection. All passwords to be managed with your oversight
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