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Hit all the keys

10 tips for safe family Internet surfing.

By Inland Empire FamilyPublished: March, 2006

Have a child? Have a computer inside the house? Here are 10 tips to follow to make certain that the technology doesn’t hijack the youth:

[1] Create house rules
Create simple, easy-to-read house rules about using the Internet and post them on or near the monitor.

[2] Consider using security software for your computers
Parental controls, pop-up blocker, anti-spyware, anti-spam and firewalls help to protect your family’s home computer and limit your child’s use.

[3] Create passwords
Internet accounts should be in your name, with parents having the primary screen name, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices. Children should not complete a profile for a service provider and should use only nondescript screen names that don’t identify themselves as children.

[4] Keep the computers in the family room
Keep the computers in the family room or in other open areas. Be aware of any other computers your children might be using.

[5] Don’t be afraid to ask
Frequently ask your children to show you what they can do online and visit their favorite sites and chat rooms.

[6] Talk about chat rooms
Talk with your children about never meeting a new online “friend” face-to face.

[7] Go online yourself
Select child-friendly search engines to assist your children in completing their

[8] Talk about spam
Explain to your children what spam is and caution your kids to never respond to commercial e-mail, or to open e-mail attachments from unknown senders.

[9] Watch out for dangerous e-mails
Talk to your children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mails, chat, or other communications. Report any such communication to your local law enforcement agency or to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website at www.cybertipline.com.

[10] Talk about downloading
If your children are music fans and enjoy accessing music online, be sure that they are getting their music from legitimate sources and not sharing copyrighted materials illegally. Making copyrighted materials available without authorization can lead to prosecution and bring steep financial penalties.

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