Preston Manor City Learning Centre

INTRODUCTION

Children seem to have no problems getting to grips with new technology, from the latest mobile phone to game consoles and laptops. As a parent, you may feel out of your depth or feel intimidated by these technologies, however you do not have to know how they work or how to use the internet in order to advise your child of the dangers.

WHAT CHILDREN DO ON THE INTERNET

How parents use
the internet

E-mail
Shopping
Booking holidays
Research

How Young people
use the internet

Music
Games
Chat
Instant Messaging IM
Blogs
Social Networking
Research

USEFUL INTERNET SAFETY TIPS

Keep the computer in a communal area of the house, where it's easier to monitor what your children are viewing.
Use internet filtering software and child-friendly search engines. Take advantage of your browser's security settings.
Check out what child protection services your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers.
Tell children not to give out their personal details. If they want to subscribe to any services online, make up a family email address to receive the mail
Children love to chat, but make sure they only use moderated chat rooms and encourage them to introduce you to their online friends.
Encourage your children to tell you if they feel uncomfortable, upset or threatened by anything they see online.
The web is a great resource for homework but remember to use more than one to get a balanced view.
Go online with your children and become part of their online life.
The key to safe surfing is communication.