Computers at Home

While many of your child's interactions with educational technology are going to take place at school and will, for the most part, be determined by his or her school's policies, home computing is one area where you are entirely in charge.

This section of "How Can I Help My Child?" is designed to help you answer some of the questions that you may have about home computing and your child. Here are just a few of the questions that usually come up:

1. Should I buy a computer for my child?
   
2. My child wants a laptop computer. Is this really a good idea?
3. How can I make good decisions about purchasing educational software?
4. Should I install Internet filtering software, and just how well does filtering software actually work?
5. How can I keep my child safe on the Internet?
6. Should there be household rules governing computer use?
7. Should I place time limits on my child's computer use?

Just click on the above questions for tips and suggestions on how you might want to go about answering each of them. As you will see, there are some definite "dos" and "don'ts"—especially when it comes to Web safety—but there is still a lot of room for parents to set their own policies.

Internet Safety

The Internet has made all kinds of activities easier, including crime. Parents need to be aware that their children are potential targets for online criminals. Possible threats to kids include, but aren't limited to, pedophiles, con artists, and unscrupulous marketers. It is important that children know not to share personal information about themselves or their families with the people they meet online; and they should never arrange to meet an online "friend" in person without parental supervision in a public place.

Below are just a few suggestions on how to create a safe Web surfing experience for your child.

Monitor. If you read the previous section on Internet filtering software, you'll know that filtering is imprecise. Filters are intended to help parents, not to replace them. Whether or not you have installed filters on your home computer, keep an eye on your kids' Internet surfing habits. One way to do this is to put the computer in the living room or some other place where the computer's screen will be in plain view to anyone who passes by. By making the computer screen public, your child will be much less likely to visit inappropriate Web sites.

Perhaps the most dangerous places for children on the Internet are chat rooms. While chat rooms can be fun places to communicate with friends (and even make new friends), you and your child should be aware that they are fundamentally anonymous—people can easily lie about their identities. Child predators and other criminals have been known to use chat rooms to make contact with their victims. Because of this danger, many Internet filtering programs allow parents to make chat rooms inaccessible. If you don't forbid or block the use of chat rooms altogether, at least find out which chat rooms your child likes to frequent. Also take note of how much time your child usually spends in chat rooms—there may be cause for concern if your child starts spending an inordinate amount of time in one particular chat room.

Communicate. Nothing beats open communication between you and your child: be clear about what kind of sites are off limits, and make sure that your child knows that he or she can and should talk to you if they do encounter any material (or anybody) on the Internet that makes them uncomfortable.

One way to open up the lines of communication is to work with your child to draw up a list of Internet "do's and don'ts." Basic safety rules (such as not revealing personal information online) will not be negotiable, but you may want to be flexible about other rules (such as how many hours of Web surfing per day are permitted). Involving your child in the rule making process even a little bit can help make you seem like much less of a tyrant and can help with his or her cooperation. More importantly, you'll be getting your child to think critically and to exercise his or her own judgment about the material he or she encounters on the Internet.

Enforce. The best rules are useless if they aren't consistently enforced. Make sure that your child understands that there will be consequences for misuse of Internet privileges.

Web Sites of Interest
There are quite a few Web sites on the Internet whose mission is to inform parents and kids about online safety. Here are just a few:

The Federal Trade Commission: Kidz Privacy
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/
Children make easy targets for unscrupulous marketers seeking to obtain personal information about potential customers. This site works to make kids (and their parents) aware of their online privacy rights.

GetNetWise
http://www.getnetwise.org/
A public service site sponsored by private industry and public interest organizations. In addition to its Online Safety Guide, GetNetWise also offers advice on how to stop unwanted e-mail and spam, how to protect your computer from viruses and hackers, and how to protect your privacy online.

Internet Safety for Kids
Help protect your kids and teach them about Internet safety.

• Safety Guidelines and Suggestions
• I-Safe

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
http://www.missingkids.com/
The NCMEC is a non-profit group whose sole mission is to protect children. Internet safety advice is just one of the many topics covered by this site. Here there are resources for parents, law enforcement, and attorneys. You'll also find the latest facts and statistics about child exploitation in America.

NetSmartz Workshop
http://www.netsmartz.org/
Designed especially for children, NetSmartz uses a cartoon-like interface with animated characters and interactive games to make the whole process of learning about Web safety fun for kids. You'll also find that the site offers plenty of information for parents.

Online Privacy Alliance
http://www.privacyalliance.org/
A diverse group of more than 30 global corporations and associations whose mission is to promote business-wide policies that protect individuals' privacy online. Includes a section outlining the organization's position on children's privacy.

SafeKids.com
http://www.safekids.com/
Contains an especially useful section called "Kids' Rules for Online Safety." Print them out and share them with your child. This site also has a fun Internet Safety Quiz for kids.

San Diego's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
http://www.sdicac.org
This site offers information about local efforts to protect children from criminals on the Internet. Includes phone numbers and links to San Diego authorities.

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