Please Safety is Important to Our Children

Okay I cannot stress enough how easy kids can access the internet.  They are smart and learn fast.  If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or even babysitter please read the links I have under Internet Safety Links on the left of this page.

Kids today know that most people use passwords that are familiar, pets names, birthdays etc.  Do not use phrases like mycomputer, youcantbehere etc.  Use a password that is a combination of #s and letters in no special order, something that doesn’t make sense is the best.  If you can’t remember it write it down in 1 place where the kids will not find it, don’t put it in your phone never a good idea.

On your computer there is “User Accounts” in the control panel, it is best to set up one for the kids so they never have access to your account.  Make sure the account has restricted access and that nothing can be changed without your password, including downloading and deleting history.

There is also one thing you must do and you may need someone to do it for you, if you don’t think you can.  When you turn on a computer it gives you the option to start in safe mode or access start up menu.  Make sure that it is set up so that you cannot enter this without a password. Don’t use the same password you have on your user account. Older computers and even newer ones do not have a password set for this.  You must set one, kids soon learn they can change things such as passwords and remove restrictions this way.

Kids are not afraid of computers and can learn fast what they can do on them.  Most adults are not that confident.  Also install a parental control program.  Many internet providers offer them but do your homework and get the right one for you and the kids.

Here is some helpful information I got from http://www.opp.ca

INTERNET SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS

Create a list of Internet house rules with your teens.(and young children as well)

You should include the kinds/types of sites that are off limit.

Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area and out of your teens' bedrooms

Talk to them about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other activities.

Know which chat rooms or message boards your teens visit, and whom they talk to.

Encourage them to use monitored chat rooms.

Talk to your teens about their Instant Messaging list and make sure they're not talking to strangers.

Insist that they tell you first if they want to meet an "online friend." It is potentially dangerous for this meeting to take place unsupervised.

Teach your teens never to give out personal information without your permission when using e-mail, chat rooms or instant messaging, filling out registration forms and personal profiles, and entering online contests.

Encourage your teens to come to you if they find messages that make them feel uncomfortable or threatened. (Stay calm. If you "freak out" they won't turn to you for help when they need it.)

Talk to your teenagers about online pornography and direct them to good sites about health and sexuality.

Insist they stay in public chat room areas.

Help protect them from spam. Tell your teens not to give out their e-mail address online, not to respond to junk mail, and to use e-mail filters.

Be aware of the Web sites that your teens frequent, and make sure the sites don't contain personal photos and information or offensive content.

Teach your kids responsible online behaviour. File-sharing and taking text, images or artwork may infringe on copyright laws.

Talk to them about ethical behaviour. They should not be using the Internet to spread gossip, bully or threaten others.

Make sure your teens check with you before making financial transactions online.

Discuss gambling and its potential risks and remind your teens that it is illegal for them to gamble online.

Ensure your computer is properly protected by using/installing up-to-date security patches, current anti-virus software and a firewall to protect it from intrusions (hackers).

Always delete unknown email attachments without opening them. They can contain destructive viruses.

Always virus scan all files that are downloaded to your computer for viruses, even those from known persons.

Signs your child might at risk online

Your child spends large amounts of time online, especially at night

Your child accesses pornography on the computer

Your child receives phone calls from unknown individuals

Your child is making long distance calls to numbers you do not recognize

Your child receives mail/gifts/packages from someone you don’t know

Your child turns computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen when you enter the room

Your child becomes withdrawn from the family

Your child is using an on-line account belonging to someone else.

RCMP http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Here are some more helpful sites and will add them to the Internet Safety Links on the left of my page.

 http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca  (Internet Safety Tips for Parents) this site includes these addresses.

For more information:

Cyber Safety - Whats That?

http://learnnowbc.com/Parent_Information_Centre/WhatsThat.aspx

Dealing with Internet Abuses and Hazards http://www.cln.org/spam.html#Risks

Internet Awareness for Parents                                                  

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/internet/index.cfm

Libraries and Internet Toolkit for Parents and Children

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=litoolkit&Template=/ContentManagement

/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=50662

http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide  A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety,

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs110/1102652988615/archive/1111402295265.html                                                         Enough is Enough, WRAP (White Ribbon Against Pornography) October 28 – November 4, 2012

I hope these sites will be helpful.  We must protect our children!!!

This smile from

 https://www.facebook.com/IAMMRKITTY

Thanks for visiting and I hope this was helpful!

Alice M

alicem@fortheloveofalicesfamily.com