There are so many great resources on the Internet to help our kids learn and computer skills are a must for the next generation. In fact, I think my 5 year is old is more web savvy than my mom. Along with the plethora of options also comes the opportunity of opening our children up to unsafe websites. Here are some tips to help protect your child when they use the Internet as well as some parent approved web sites.
Have your children use the computer in a public area in the house. This will help you to know a little bit more about what they are doing since you can check on them regularly. It will also help them since they know mom is just around the corner and keeps walking by. Too much privacy in this area is not a good thing.
You can also install software on your computer that can let you know what websites have been accessed as well as software that can block certain types of sites. Here's a few options:
- Mozilla Firefox has a free add-on that filters out websites with questionable content. Mozilla firefox is a great alternative to Internet explorer. Just make sure that your children cannot access internet explorer as well (uninstall it or make it hard to find).
- Safe Eyes Parental Control
- You can purchase this software at Amazon (or wherever else you may find it). This will not only filter out websites but it will also track email, chat, and social networking "conversations". It is loaded with many more features including setting time limits for your child's use.
- Bsecure is another sofware option with similar features to Safe Eyes. You can purchase it directly on their website.
Ask your children questions about what they do on the Internet. Do they like to talk to people, play games, etc. Teach them about strangers on the Internet like you teach them about other safety issues. They need to know that there are bad guys on the Internet too and they usually pretend to be someone good. Remind them never to give out personal information on the computer and never try to meet someone they "met" on the Internet without talking to mom and dad about it first. There is a false sense of security with people we meet on the Internet and children are easy targets since they are trusting and easily fooled.
Please take an opportunity to check out our Top 10 Education Sites for Kids .
Here are some sites my kids like and sites we would consider safe:
Playhouse Disney - This website is great for kids 3 and up. Each show on Playhouse Disney has an area on the site with games, activiteies, and more. There is also a parent resouce area. My kids find it easy to navigate the site as they pick their favorite show and then some activites to do with those characters. The games and activites are educational as well.
PBS Kids - This site also has a page for each of the popular shows on PBS Kids. There are educational games and activities for each show. The main page also has an area for teachers and parents. This site would be good for age 3 and up.
Jump Start - This website is designed for children 3-8. You do need to register to play but it is free. Your child can design their own character who will play all the games. This website is both educational and fun.
National Geographics for Kids - This nature site is geared toward school age children with areas for games, activities, stories, videos, and more. Childen as old as 16 would enjoy the content of this site especially if they love animals, the outdoors, and nature. This can be a great resource for learning as well as school projects and fun.
If you are looking for more safe sites, especially about a specific topic, check out ZiggityZoom.com . They have lots of great sites listed on their site for both children and parents.
What are some of your favorite websites for your kids? What do you do to help protect your kids when they are on the Internet? Please share your ideas so we can encourage our kids to be safe on the Internet.
