Most people
who use the Internet have positive experiences. But there are some
risks. The online world, like the rest of society, is made up of
all sorts of people. Most are decent and respectful, but some may
be rude, insulting or even criminal.
Kids get a lot
of benefit from being online, but they can also be targets of people
who want to take advantage of their innocent and trusting nature.
Children need their parents to supervise them and give them commonsense
advice on how to be "street smart" on the information
highway.
One place to
start is to provide your children with "Kids’ Rules For
Online Safety." This flyer is written in easy-to-understand
language. Take time to read these rules with your child.
Most of all,
set guidelines for using the computer. Monitor the Web sites that
your kids visit. While children need a certain amount of privacy,
they also need parental involvement to keep them safe.
If you are concerned
about your children’s online activities, talk to them,
not at them. How you respond to their questions and concerns
will determine whether they confide in you if they have a problem
in the future.
Kids'
Rules for Online Safety
I will not
give out personal information such as my address, telephone number,
parents’ work address or telephone number, or the name and
location of my school without my parents’ permission.
I will tell
my parents right away if I come across any information that makes
me feel uncomfortable.
I will never
agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without
first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting,
I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother
or father along.
I will never
send a person my picture or anything else without first checking
with my parents.
I will not
respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel
uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that.
If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact
the service provider.
I will talk
with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online.
We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the
length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to
visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without
their permission.
I will not
give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends)
other than my parents.
I will be
a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people
or is against the law.
