Internet Lifeguard:

Surfs Up - Lifeguards Needed 

On the one hand, you may think the only way to keep your children safe is to keep them off the Internet.  Think about it further, though.  The only thing you are guaranteeing if you keep your children offline is that they will fall behind in knowing how to use and enjoy the most powerful educational and communication medium in the history of the world. 

There are many things you can do to protect your children Online. It's just like protecting them anywhere else.  You don't let six-year-olds wander into a big city all by themselves.  You know what dangers exist "out there" and you teach your children how to avoid those dangers.  You set rules and enforce them. 

Protecting your children Online is exactly the same as protecting your child in real life, because the Internet itself is no different than real life.  Parenting a child who is using the Internet is no different than parenting a child in any other situation. 

EXCEPT your child is likely to know more about the Internet than you do.  This doesn't mean you have to relinquish your parental role and let the child take over, making decisions you know nothing about--decisions your child may not be ready for.  The only problem is that you may not know what the dangers are.  Once you do, you can set the rules and enforce them, just like you do in the real world.  It's really that simple.

Beginning / Previous / Next