Internet Safety for Kids
1. Parents, set guidelines with your children before they go online. Decide how much time is okay for your kids to spend on the Internet each day, and figure out what you will allow them to do online. After you (and your kids) are more familiar with the Internet, you can talk again and update the guidelines. Post them next to the computer for easy reference.
2. Instruct your children not to share any password with anyone else. This goes for you too parents!
3. Teach your kids not to share any personal information about themselves. This includes age, full name, family members' names, name of school, name of teams, address, parents' employers, etc.
4. If you type in a web address, double-check the URL (the address of the Web site) before hitting the Enter key. Make sure the spelling is correct. Many times, misspelled URLs lead to sites that contain content that is unsuitable for children.
5. If you will allow your kids to use chat rooms, check them out first and make sure they are appropriate. Different chat sites have different rules and many different types of people going into chat rooms. Remember, the people on the other side of that computer are anonymous to you, you have no way of truly knowing who you are talking to.
6. Kids should never send a picture of themselves in e-mail unless parents say it is okay.
7. Teach your kids that if they receive unwanted, offensive, mean, threatening, or harassing e-mail, do not respond to it. Have them come tell you right away.
8. Remember: not everything you read on the Internet is true. In fact, I venture to say a lot of what you read is not based on fact.
9. Kids should ask before signing up for anything online, and should never be allowed to approve installations.
10. Don't open files that you receive from someone unless you know them, AND you are expecting the file. If you are not expecting any type of file, call the sender and ask if they meant to send the attachement. If not, just delete it. (Some computer viruses are spread through emails that look like normal emails from people you know.)
11. Keep the computer in a common space, like the family room, den, or living room - and then keep an eye on your kids.
12. Any information shared about yourself can be seen by anyone who is online.
13. Pick a name—different from your real name—to use online in forums, chats, and social networking sites.
14. If someone asks too many personal questions online, be suspicious. Stop communicating with them.
15. Be respectful and treat others as you would like to be treated. Don't use bad language online or or send mean messages.
Adapted from Microsoft Corporation