Safety Tips For:

kids = =E2=80=A2=20 teens = =E2=80=A2=20 families=

Safety by Age

2-4 = years
4-7 = years
7-10 years=20
10-12 = years=20
12-14 = years=20
14-17 = years=20

What Kinds = of=20 Risks
Are There?

Meeting=20 Someone Online=20
Loss = of=20 Privacy=20
Getting= =20 Into Online "Fights"=20
File-Sharing/Pe= er-to-Peer=20 Programs=20
Making=20 Threats/Law Breaking=20
Inapp= ropriate=20 Material=20
If= =20 I read it online is it true?=20
Putti= ng=20 People In Jeopardy=20
Drugs = and=20 Other Substances

Risks By Technolog= y

Social=20 Networking Sites=20
File-sharing=20
Visiti= ng=20 Web Sites=20
S= etting=20 Up A Web Site=20
Searching=20
Chat<= /A>=20
Instant=20 Messaging=20
Emai= l=20
Newsgroups=20
Authors and=20 Contributors

More Privacy = Information

Qui= ck=20 Tips for Parents=20
Pri= vacy=20 Reminders For Parents=20
Kids=20 Guide for Privacy Online=20
Parents = Guide=20 to Their Kids Privacy Online

Home / = Kids' Safety / Safety = Guide

Online Safety Guide

Keeping children safe on the Internet is everyone's job.

Parents need to stay in close touch with their kids as they = explore=20 the Internet.=20
Teachers need to help students use the Internet = appropriately and=20 safely.=20
Community groups, including libraries, after-school = programs, and=20 others should help educate the public about safe surfing.=20
Kids and teens need to learn to take responsibility for = their own=20 behavior -- with guidance from their families and communities.=20
It's not at all uncommon for kids to know more about the = Internet=20 and computers than their parents or teachers. If that's the case = in your=20 home or classroom, don't despair. You can use this as an = opportunity to=20 turn the tables by having your child teach you a thing or two = about the=20 Internet. Ask her where she likes to go on the Internet and what = she=20 thinks you might enjoy on the Net. Get your child to talk with = you about=20 what's good and not so good about his Internet experience. Also, = no=20 matter how Web-literate your kid is, you should still provide = guidance.=20 You can't automate good parenting.

A little perspective from a parent who's been there

Just as adults need to help kids stay safe, they also need to = learn not=20 to overreact when they find out a child or teenager has been = exposed to=20 inappropriate material or strayed from a rule. Whatever you do, = don't=20 blame or punish your child if he tells you about an uncomfortable = online=20 encounter. Your best strategy is to work with him, so you both can = learn=20 from what happened and figure out how to keep it from happening = again.

The challenges posed by the Internet can be positive. Learning = to make=20 good choices on the Internet can serve young people well by = helping them=20 to think critically about the choices they will face. Today it's = the=20 Internet; tomorrow it may be deciding whether it's safe to get = into the=20 car of someone a teen meets at a party. Later it will be deciding = whether=20 a commercial offer really is "too good to be true" or whether it = really=20 makes sense to vote for a certain candidate or follow a spiritual = guru.=20 Learning how to make good choices is a skill that will last a=20 lifetime.

Guide to Online Privacy

While kids are often more computer savvy than their parents -- = they can=20 easily sign up for a game or subscribe to a chat room service -- = they=20 don't understand the consequences of revealing personal = information to=20 strangers. As a rule, children should not reveal person= al=20 information about themselves online without a parent's = permission.=20 This includes their name, email address, postal address, phone = number,=20 photo, school address, etc.

Teach your children about some of the risks=20 involved if they reveal their name, address, telephone number = and/or email=20 address online and print out some of these general rules for your = children= =20 to follow as they surf online. You can help children protect their = privacy=20 and themselves if you teach them to be privacy-wise= .=20 Learn more about how to teach your kids to keep their personal = information=20 to themselves online by visiting the kids = privacy=20 section of GetNetWise.