April 2009 Parent Newsletter

Internet Safety Tips for Parents and Kids

The Internet can be a wonderful resource for students. It can also be a dangerous place. Keeping your children safe has always been your top priority. Continue reading to see how you can keep them safe online as well.

• Place the computer in a high traffic area, like the kitchen or family room, not in the child’s bedroom.


• Monitor your child’s Internet use consistently. This is not a violation of your child's privacy; this is a parental responsibility to keep your child safe.


• Install blocking or filtering software to ensure your children don’t venture into areas they shouldn’t.


• Remind your children to tell a trusted adult if they see something that makes them feel frightened, uncomfortable, or perplexed.


• If you suspect your child is being stalked online or sexually exploited, report it to your local law enforcement agency immediately.


• If your child belongs to social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook, look closely at the information they have posted in their member profiles, including photos and videos.


• Explain to your kids that they should never give out personal information, including their name, age, address, phone number, name and address of the school they attend, their parents’ names, or their teachers’ names.


• Check your credit card statements each month for unusual charges that may indicate that a stranger or your child is making unauthorized purchases.


• Find out what computer safeguards are used in your child’s school, the public library, and most important, at their friends’ homes.

Remind your children to:

• Never open emails from someone they don’t know


• Never download pictures from an unknown source


• Never upload their photos or videos


• Never create online profiles


• Never respond to a rude or offensive email, instant message or posting


• Never meet anyone online without their parents present