Internet Safety Information for Parents

Internet Safety Information for Parents

Internet Safety

The elementary students at Phoenix Christian will be studying Internet Safety during the 1^st semester. The younger students will make a new friend named i-Buddy. He will help them learn all about how to stay safe on the Internet. The 4^th-7^th graders will learn about computer viruses, Intellectual Property, copyrights, fair use, how to avoid plagiarism, and piracy. The 5^th & 6^th,& 7^th graders will also learn how to avoid predators on the Internet.

How much do you know about Internet Safety? Do you monitor your student’s internet use? Do you know what they are actually doing while they are on the Internet? I am amazed at how many of my 3^rd - 7^th grade students say that their parents don’t have any rules for them about using the computer, and that they are allowed to be on the Internet anytime they want to without supervision.

The most important Internet safety rule is that your child should never give out any personal information on the Internet. Personal information includes name, address, city, state, zip code, age, name of school, and pictures. All of this information can be used by predators to find your child, and also by companies to generate SPAM.

There are many websites, including some game sites, that ask for personal information before one is allowed to enter the site. You, as a parent, need to decide if it is okay for your child to use this website or not. Always check the privacy policy at the bottom of the website for their policy on information collection and use.

Be very careful about letting your child participate in chat rooms or instant messaging. There are many predators who pose as kids or teens. They try to become best friends with your child in order to get him or her to want to meet them in person. They use a process called the “grooming process”. This involves pretending to like the same things your child does, pretending to share the same interests, telling them they care about them more than their parents do, always taking their side, and telling them that they are best friends. They are very good at getting information indirectly, from asking questions that allow them to figure out where your child lives or where they go to school. They want this friendship to be a secret, and they may send your child unacceptable pictures or material and then threaten them if they tell anyone about it. Their ultimate goal is to get your child to meet them in person. NEVER allow your child to meet someone they have met on the Internet.

You should also check the history to see what websites your child is visiting. You can do this by clicking “Ctrl+Shift+I” or click on the Favorites icon and then select “History”. This will allow you to see what websites have been visited in the past 2 weeks. Don’t punish your child if you find questionable use of the Internet. Instead have some open, honest discussions with them about what they have seen or done on the Internet and why it is not a good thing for them to do. There is some good software monitoring software available, also. Check out the links under Internet Safety Information for Parents.

If your child really wants to participate in a chat room, our Technology Director at Phoenix Christian has created a Christian Social Network where you and your child can safely interact with other people online. I, along with Sonya Berges, who teaches 7^th-9^th grade computer classes on the Central campus, will use this as a resource when we teach Internet safety to our classes. Check it out at www.dailychristianlife.org.

The Internet is a wonderful place and makes our lives so much easier, but we need to use it wisely and safely. If you want more information on Internet safety, check out the links under Internet Safety Information for Parents, or the websites for the kids under Internet Safety.

Enjoy the Internet, but remember: Cyber Smart is Cyber Safe!

Patty Martin

Computer Teacher

Back to Home Page