Parental Control Tips

1. Know the Internet. Learn about social networking websites, blogs, chats and forums. Get familiar with the Instant Messaging applications your children use. This is the first step for you to have a better understanding of potential online Internet risks.

2. Teach your children the ABC’s of online safety basics:
a.    Do not share personal information
b.    Do not send pictures to strangers
c.    Do keep passwords private

3. Place the computer in a common area so that all the family can see what is being accessed.  If the computer is installed in a child’s bedroom it is difficult physically to monitor what he or she is doing. In addition, establish some rules about what your children can and cannot do online and set daily time limits for online activity.

4. Find websites appropriate for children and encourage them to surf there. Virtual worlds for children are a good option.

5. Explain to your children that any information posted online can be viewed and tracked by anyone, including details and status updates on social networking websites. The same rules apply to personal information, photos and videos.

6. Safe search. Set search engines to search the web in safe search mode. In this way you can filter inappropriate search results.

7. Teach your children that what they do not do in real life, they should not do on the Internet. This includes all kinds of cyber bulling via text, photos and videos.

8. Be responsible when your children want to shop online. Do not give them your credit card information. If there is something they need to buy, you should be personally involved.

9. Make sure your children know that they must contact an adult if anything bothersome, annoying, suspicious or scary happens online. Make sure they know who to contact, either you or other adults they trust.

10. Don’t forget! When you are aware of the risks, surfing the Internet is fun. You can enjoy all the good resources the Internet has to offer, together with your children :)