Online safety for children during the holidays

December 22, 4:38 PMNY Education ExaminerLorri Giovinco-Harte

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Yahoo Kids provides tools to teach children about online safety

It's holiday time which means that many children will be home for vacation and have a lot more free time to be on the Internet.  For parents, this can mean more concern about keeping their children safe from potential dangers which lurk on the World Wide Web.

Online activity by children increases during the holidays and experts urge parents to talk to their children about potential online dangers.  They also stress the need to provide guidelines and rules for staying safe while using the Internet. 

There are several online resources which can help both parents and children learn about Internet Safety.

KidsHealth.org has created a page of information to help parents protect their children from potential online dangers.  They have included suggested rules for children and tips for parents.  The tips for parents include:

* Become computer literate and learn how to block objectionable material.

* Keep the computer in a common area, not in individual bedrooms, where you can watch and monitor its use.

* Share an email account with your child so you can monitor messages.

* Bookmark kids' favorite sites for easy access.

* Spend time online together to teach your kids appropriate online behavior.

* Forbid your child from entering private chat rooms; block them with safety features provided by your Internet service provider or with special filtering software. Be aware that posting messages to chat rooms reveals a user's email address to others.

* Monitor your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges.

* Find out what, if any, online protection is offered by your child's school, after-school center, friends' homes, or anyplace where kids could use a computer without your supervision.

* Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.

* Forward copies of obscene or threatening messages you or your kids get to your Internet service provider.

* Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 if you're aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography online. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI if your child has received child pornography via the Internet.
 

You can find out more at KidsHealth.org.

There are also some great sites which are aimed at teaching children how to avoid potential dangers on the Internet.

The FBI has created a list of tips for children entitled, "Safety Tips-Internet Safety."

WiredKids.org is a nonprofit organization whose site includes a section for children that includes information, games, and news which discuss Internet safety.

The UK site, Kids Smart also hosts games and competitions for children to test their knowledge about staying safe on the net.

In addition,  Yahoo Kids has a section dedicated to teaching about Internet Safety.  Their children's section includes videos, games, and an online poll to test children's safety knowledge.

The Internet can be an important tool for helping children to access information, learn new concepts, and develop important technological skills.  Unfortunately,  there are also many potential dangers involved. 

Since holiday vacations afford children with much more free time to engage in online activities, it is important for parents to remind children to search the net with safety in mind.