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Teens are spending more time on the Internet than ever before. The World Wide
Web can put information at your child’s fingertips, help with homework, improve
computer skills and provide entertainment. The Internet also can lead children to
inappropriate material and dangerous situations.
Even if you don’t have a computer in your home, your child will be exposed to the
Internet somewhere – at school, the public library or a friend’s house. While
these places may have guidelines and procedures to protect children, it is
important to talk to your child about the Internet and to set rules of your own.
Your teen needs your guidance when using this tool and as he or she continues to
explore its resources.
Here are a number of tips to keep your teen’s Internet experience safe,
educational and fun:
- Make sure your son or daughter understands what types of Web sites you
consider appropriate and what categories of sites are off-limits. Establish clear
rules, post them near the computer and enforce them.
 Set limits on the amount of time your teen can spend online each day or week.
Do not let surfing the Internet take the place of homework, playing with friends
or other activities. Use an alarm clock or timer to keep your child from losing
track of time while using the computer.- Participate in your teen’s online time. Stay involved and monitor what your child
is doing. Keep your home computer in a common area such as the kitchen or
family room. If your child has a computer in his or her bedroom, make sure the
door to the room stays open at all times.
- Polish your own computer skills. If you are not comfortable using a computer or
the Internet, consider taking a class or doing some reading. Your child will need
your help to use this resource effectively, and it is important for you to
understand what your teen is doing (and what he or she is capable of doing).
- Consider buying filtering software that prevents your teen from visiting
inappropriate sites and helps you monitor the files he or she downloads. Keep
in mind that even the best filter may accidentally give your child access to
materials you don’t approve of, and many children are smart enough to find
ways around these blocks.
- Ask your teen about how he or she uses computers outside your home and talk
about the kinds of information online. Encourage your child to discuss
anything that makes him or her feel uncomfortable.
- Talk to your son or daughter about how easy it is for people to misrepresent
themselves on the Internet. Explain that strangers in chat rooms should be
treated with the same caution as strangers on the street. Teach your child not to
open e-mail from someone he or she doesn’t know.
- Tell your teen never to arrange to meet in person anyone he or she has met
online. Get to know your teen’s online friends just as you would his or her other
friends. Ask the same kinds of questions you ask before your teen goes out with
friends. Find out where he or she is going online and with whom.
- Explain why your child should never provide any personal information to
someone on the Internet. This includes name, address, phone number, age,
school, school location, names of friends, credit card numbers, passwords and
vacation plans. Your child should not exchange pictures online. Make sure
your teen chooses usernames and e-mail addresses that have no identifying
information such as name, age or city.
- Decide whether you want your teen to participate in unmoderated chat rooms
where he or she may be exposed to bad language and personal questions. In
moderated chat rooms designed for children, inappropriate messages are edited.
- Never give your teen your
credit card for online purchases.
If you want to allow
your child to buy items on
the Internet, insist on being
involved in all orders.
- Discuss unsolicited
commercial e-mail, called
spam, with your child. These
offers often are scams. Teach
your child to delete these
messages. If your child is
placed on an unwanted
e-mail distribution list,
show him or her how
to be removed.
- Ask about the Internet use
policy at your local library
and at your teen’s school.
If your teen’s friends have
computers at home, talk to
their parents to determine
whether their rules and
monitoring practices are
consistent with your own.
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