When I was a kid, we didn’t have a home computer until I was around 12. My dad surprised us with one for Christmas and I actually wasn’t totally in favor of the computer because I was told that I wouldn’t need my encyclopedias anymore. You don’t tell an exceptionally nerdy child that she will no longer need her beloved encyclopedias. I was pretty devastated by the thought of it. Can you imagine a kid today choosing a collection of very large books over a computer?
A lot has changed over the years with technology, how we use it, and what we use it for. In an astoundingly short amount of time we’ve gone from people first being introduced to computers at 12 years old to children who have never known a world without the internet and having direct, 24/7 access to it.
When I first started going online, my dad had some regulations he quickly put into place. At the time, I thought he was being too cautious and had too many rules. Now that I’m grown and see my stepdaughters going online to play games at 7 and 9 years old, I realize that not only was my dad fair when it came to my internet usage as a kid, but he was more lenient than I want to be.
Kids going online can be a terrifying thought. So many kids think that just because they are sitting comfortably in their homes that they don’t have to be cautious of what they tell people about themselves online, and that nothing they do on the internet can affect their lives or be a threat to them. It is crucial to speak to your kids openly abut how to surf the web safely, but knowing where to start can be difficult.
The More You Know learning series has launched “Growing Up Online,” a completely FREE eBook for parents to keep kids safe on the internet. This free eBook provides easy-to-use information that addresses the growing concern about online privacy and cyberbullying in a unique and engaging way.
The complete eBook can be downloaded for free via the app below for the iBookstore, Google Play, Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.
Also available in the app below are four comic book stories that you can watch as a family to discuss real situations that may occur when your kids go online, as well as the ‘Is Your Child Internet-Ready?’ quiz.
‘The Lorax’ DVD/Blu-ray Movie Giveaway
An internet safety conversation can be a tough conversation to have for everyone involved. So what better way to end the conversation than with a great movie?
One lucky reader will win a copy of “The Lorax” on DVD/Blu-ray.
This giveaway is open to US and CAN entrants 18+ and will end September 23.
This giveaway was made possible by PartnersHub. No incentive was provided and opinions are my own.
Children need to be taught that some ppl lie and aren’t what they seem. They should never give out any kind of personal information to someone online even if they think its another kid.
tell them to come to you if anything ever feels uncomfortable with someone.. to not do anything they dont feel is ok, and never to meet anyone off the web unless you are there with them!
I think the best piece of advice I have is the simplest, choose the websites your children are allowed to visit and visit new websites with them. Right now my son is 7 and we watch all the websites he is allowed to play on closely. Most of those websites have a way of blocking conversation beyond the few phrases you will allow them to say so it makes it easy. Once my son gets older though, we will have to discuss the downside of the internet a bit more and how people lie and to be careful about what you tell others about yourself.
Keep reminding them that they are open to everyone when they go online.
I talk to them about what information we can share and what information is dangerous. I also monitor what they are doing , that is our deal. If they want online privileges, I get to look when requested.
talk to them about what’s safe and what’s not and keep the computer in an area where you can see what they are doing
Monitor what they are doing! Not like a hawk, but don’t leave them in their room for hours…
I entered your giveaway.
It would be great to win a DVD & Blu-Ray Combo Pack of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.
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telling you my best piece of advice for keeping kids safe when online.
The best way to keep kids safe online is to supervise them while they use the computer.
Make sure you know there passwords for the social media sites they go to
and if you can block adult sites and chat rooms you wouldn’t want them to go to.
It’s also important to tell them to never give out any personal information or share pictures with strangers.
Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!!!
We tell our kids to never give out any personal info
My kids are only allowed to go to websites that I have bookmarked or approved. When it comes to the internet, I’m a helicopter mom 🙂
Keep the computer in a communal room.
My kids are still young but not too young to use the internet so I make sure that I am with them when they are on the internet preferably beside them but at least in the same room as they are in! We also have a netnanny program so if they are searching nothing inappropriate would pop up.
Sit with your children until they are old enough to be online by themselves (if there is ever a good time, have to trust them sometime). Explain to them that it is important to never give out personal information regardless of the reason.
I tell them that people are not always who they say. I also have spywatcher stuff downloaded so I can see what is going on when they are online,
Don’t click on random links, don’t give out personal information to strangers and never fully trust what anyone says to you on the net, people lie
Only allow them on the computer when you are there with them!
Keeping the computer in a family/shared room rather than a bedroom.
talk to them about what’s safe and what’s not and Monitor what they are doing
KEEP THEM OUT OF CHAT ROOMS.
Talk to them! Tell them about the dangers. I think too many times parents don’t actually talk about it to their kids
Best advice is to purchase filtering software that will filter out an potential bad websites. I use K9 web protection
I believe in keeping children busy with other activities and keeping them active. If they are online they should be monitored
I keep my son safe by only allowing him on the internet on the computer or tab when I’m able to sit next to him and monitor his activity. He is only 5 but I have stressed the importance of not giving out personal information to any website!
Supervise and filter
Supervise and don’t give out personal info.
Pay very close attention to every site your child visits. Communicate often about their internet websites.
Don’t give out any personal info.
Don’t give out any personal info
use a parental control program
I think that the best way to keep kids safe in any situation is to keep an open dialog with them, to explain to them why you do the things you do and what the dangers are. I also believe that a parental control program is wise.
I walk into the computer room unannounced & check my kid’s cookies.
Always monitor what sites they are using, who they are talking to, look at their emails, facebook, and sites they are on ! I would rather “invade their privacy” then have something happen to them :/
monitor what they are watching playing online. Let them play online for a short period of time.
Supervise their activities, install software that can control their access, and most important, talk to your kids about internet safety.
I like to periodically engage the kids in conversation about things they’ve posted online. That way they know I’m paying attention.
not to click on ads i would also put a filter on and make it so they cant erase their history
I think with the privacy and risks today that the internet poses, parents should monitor their childrens accounts until they are 18. I think as long as they are living in your house, that you have the right to monitor (not be nosy for fun), for their safety, their social media accounts.
I think a lot of it depends on their age. For younger children, I would monitor their usage and explain what types of sites are allowable and what information they should never share. Older children should be told the same but with less monitoring of their usage, depending on their level of understanding of the dangers of the internet.
monitor, and no computer in the bedroom, it should be in a public area. and know your kids passwords.
monitor the computer use and put the computer in a very public place
Make sure the pc is in a room with family not a bedroom
turn the monitor so that you can see it if you were to walk by.
Leave all computers in the living room where everyone is located or likely to be
Set “computer time” aside every night so that you and your child can surf together or don’t let them on the internet…
Thanks for linking up to my weekly Giveaway Linky (http://www.journeysofthezoo.com/2013/09/weekly-giveaway-linky-september17.html).
Besos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
They can only go on kid friendly sites
I think parents need access to all of their children’s passwords.
jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com
make sure you are supervising them on the internet
My best advice is to use internet filters to block certain categories of sites.
Go online with them, stay in the room with them & talk to them
My best advice is supervision.
supervision, never give out personal info!
Keep the family computer in an open space and pop by often! also keep communication open, tell them openly and honestly your concerns..where age appropriate
Talk to them along with monitoring them