The Basics of Child Safe Internet Surfing

Here are some very well known safe internet surfing tips which every parent, teacher, grandparent and child should know and put into practice. All of these basic tips involve being the adult and assuming responsibility.

1. Keep the child's computer in a common area. No computers with internet access in a child's bedroom.
2. Always maintain access to your child's email, instant messaging and chat accounts and review them from time-to-time.
3. Spend time online with the child. Ask questions and show them you notice and care about what they are doing.
4. Deal with issues up front. Don't sneak around. Let your children know your intentions.
5. Teach children to NEVER respond online to anyone they don't know. Even if that person seems to be another child. That "child" could be a predator fishing for its next victim.
6. Never send personal information over the internet without a parent's knowledge and explicit approval. Personal information includes: Real name, address, phone number and school. This kind of information is exactly what predators are looking for.
7. Filter, filter, filter! The cost of internet filtering software is very reasonable. Don't believe the old canard that filtering software filters out the good with the bad. That hasn't been true since the first generation of internet filters appeared over 10 years ago. Modern internet filters are very good at not filtering out the "breast cancer" sites.