Internet Lifeguard:

Lifeguard Tips for Surfing Safe

There are potential risks that face you and your children when you surf the Internet.  These risks include finding inappropriate material either by accident or on purpose, or by unintentionally downloading files that contain viruses.  Also, you should be wary of strangers in the online world, just as you are in the real world.  Following these common sense rules will help you to use the Internet safely. 

• Keep the computer in a family room, kitchen or living room, not in your child's bedroom.
• Learn enough about computers so you can enjoy them together with your kids. (This isn't as difficult as it may sound.)
• Learn as much as you can about the Internet yourself.  Surfing should be a family activity, so that you can find your way around together and discuss any problems you encounter.
• Make sure that your children feel comfortable coming to you with questions.
• Encourage discussions between you and your children about what they enjoy online.
• Warn your children that people may not be what they seem to be.
• Keep your children out of chat rooms unless they are monitored.
• Get to know their "online friends" just as you get to know all of their other friends.
• Keep an eye on the kind of material your children are looking at, and make use of the tools that are available to help you choose what you do and don't want them to see.
• Limit the amount of time your children spend online, and encourage them to keep up their other activities and friendships.
• Think positive - take the time to find the best and most useful sites for you and your children.
• Discuss these rules, get your children to agree to adhere to them, and post them near the computer as a reminder.
• Remember to monitor your children’s compliance with these rules.
• You should feel free to change these basic rules to suit both you and your child's needs.

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