INTERNET SAFETY

The Internet has opened the doors to an “information highway” full of websites, chat rooms and more pictures, facts and fiction than one person could ever view. Children can find useful information for school projects or learn about distant places and people. Unfortunately, the Internet also has information that you would not want your child to view.

Read below for some information from KPR's Internet Safety brochure and also check out our Tips page with links and documents to valuable resources.

How can I protect my child?

Once children know how to access the Internet, they need to know how to use it safely and responsibly. Parents often wonder how to keep their children safe while allowing them to explore the Internet.

Here are a few things you can do:

• Familiarize yourself with computers and the Internet.
• Surf the Internet and discuss its safe use with your child.
• Keep the computer in a family room or area where you can watch your child online.
• Use any help lines and parental controls offered by your Internet service provider (ISP).
• Discuss online experiences openly with your child.
• Outline clear rules and expectations for online behaviour with your child.
• Consider monitoring or filtering software for your computer to block inappropriate sites.
• Remind your child about street-smart tips from everyday life that also apply online.

What positive material is available on the Internet?

Whether in their own home, at a friend’s place, at school or the library, children have access to a whole other world online. Some of the good information online includes:

• maps and directions
• phone numbers and postal codes
• research for school work, online encyclopaedias and dictionaries
• pictures and photographs
• online friendships with people across the street and around world.

What negative material is online?

There is also inappropriate material online that can be accessed by children, sometimes when they misspell common words or web site addresses. This negative material includes:

• explicit language and images, including pornographic material
• illegal acts and hateful words
• online stalkers and other dangerous individuals.

What advice should I give my child?

Discuss the Internet with your child. Share the following guidelines with your children:

• Tell a parent when you are going to be online and for how long.
• Never give out your last name, passwords, photograph, address, phone number, school or any other personal information.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel nervous about a web experience, tell a parent.
• If you come across messages or pictures that are frightening, obscene or filled with hate, tell a parent.
• Do not ever agree to meet someone in person that you have met online. People are not always who they say they are.
• Do not believe everything you read online.
• The Internet is not confidential and others can read what you have written.
• Never open a message if you do not know who sent it, because it could contain a virus.
• A user name and password should always be kept secret within your family.
• Think before you type. Manners still apply when you are in front of a computer. Speak politely and only say things that you would be willing to say in front of your friends and adults.

What are schools doing?

Here are some of the ways schools keep children safe:

• Students are taught “Netiquette” or rules for online behaviour.
• Students must sign a contract for appropriate use of the Internet at school.
• KPR computers use filtering software to prevent students from accessing objectionable material at school.

Reinforce Internet safety so your child will be protected both at home and at school. For more information on Internet safety, please visit the following web sites:

www.media-awareness.ca 
www.staysafeonline.com  
www.robinraskin.com  
www.netsmartz.org  
www.getnetwise.org  
www.safekids.com  
www.wiredkids.org

www.internet101.ca