Most Internet service providers offer parental controls.
Do you really know what your children are doing on their computers? Isn’t it worrisome — sometimes even frightening — when you think of all the things that they can potentially get involved in? And it’s even more alarming when you realize that some negative contacts and exposures are only a click away.
It worries me — and my child isn’t close to computer-use age yet.
Thankfully, there are a lot of simple ways to monitor your child’s computer activities. Experts suggest that one of the easiest things to do is to have the computer that your children utilize in an open area, like the family room, a nook in the kitchen, or even in your home office area. Somewhere where you can always be just a glance away.
There are also easy ways to block access to certain websites. In fact, when you sign up for your local server, most of them offer parental controls, which can be customized to suit your family’s particular needs.
And of course it’s important to discuss with your children openly how to make good judgment decisions — not in a heavy way, but by having a casual but realistic conversation. Explain to them the truths, such as, you need to know that you’re never supposed to give out personal information online to people you don’t know, because there are bad people out there looking for places to find children to prey on.
Then there are the positive, safe websites that you do want your children to look at, like clubpenguin.com. This kid-oriented website is a safe virtual world where kids (around the ages of 8-14) can play games and chat online with other members. This site is one of the few that have ever qualified for the Better Business Bureau — Kid’s Privacy Seal of Approval.
When a youngster logs on and joins, he or she adopts a penguin character. That’s when the fun begins. Believe it or not, more than two million visitors log in every month from around the world.
Based in Kelowna, B.C., this one-year-old website was created by three guys who wanted to create a safe environment which they would feel comfortable letting their own children use. With much of their resources going to online security, word filters, conversation monitoring, and strict privacy policies, these originators have refused to let money get in their way.
Several potential investors, and large advertising deals from the likes of Google and others, have been refused, based on the trio’s desire to retain the innocence and safety of their site.
From a mother’s point of view, that’s a real plus. As trite as it sounds, the world is a big, scary place, and any help parents can get in keeping their children safe is greatly appreciated — both in and out of the house.
