WEB ACCESS FOR CHILDREN

Many of us have trouble remembering how life was before we had “the web.” Internet access has changed our lives dramatically, and like most new technologies, the changes are both positive and negative. For those of us with children, we need to consider how the Internet is affecting our children as well as ourselves.

• Research projects for school are tremendously easier. The Internet provides a wealth of information, and many teachers now accept it as a source of research (but you should check with your child’s teacher.)
• The Internet can help your child with homework. There are a variety of Web sites designed to support instruction, such as this one which offers a fun baseball game to reinforce basic math facts. You can also go to portal sites, such as the American Library Associations “Great Web Sites for Kids” page, which have pre-screened Web sites to find ones that are kid-friendly.
• You can learn information which might help you to help your child. As a matter of fact, you are doing that by reading this essay right now! The web is a wealth of information for you.

• The Internet provides information, but this information is not guaranteed to be accurate. You need to check the source of the information and use good judgment.
• Children can accidentally (or on purpose) download inappropriate information or pictures. It is not hard to do, and it is frightening to think of a child viewing or reading violent, pornographic, or otherwise disturbing content. Therefore, always supervise your child’s Internet usage. Supervising means you are in the same room, either sitting with your child or checking in very frequently. You might need to move your computer to the room you tend to be in. There are many wonderful software programs which will help to filter inappropriate content, but you cannot guarantee that such programs will always be 100% effective.
• Instant Messaging (IM) can provide its own set of challenges. While teenagers love the instant communication with friends, parents worry about who is able to contact their child, about the content of the “silent conversations,” and also about the time teens are spending on messaging. Again, parents need to be aware and involved.
• Social networking sites (such as Facebook and MySpace) are a double-edged sword. They can be a great way to keep up with friends, but many teens don’t realize just how dangerous it can be to share personal information. Educate yourself, then make sure you talk to your teen about ways to use the Internet safely without making themselves vulnerable to predators. And remember, teens tend to think of themselves as invincible, so this needs to be an ongoing process, not a one-time talk.

Want to learn more? We recommend the following sites:

• Safekids.com and its companion site, Safeteens.com
• Kids.getnetwise.org

DON'T MISS OUT!

By subscribing to our mailing list, you will receive e-mails about our Topic of the Month and E-zine, course updates, announcements about our public service programs, and other important information. You can also refer your friends and have us invite them to subscribe. Thank you in advance for your support!

TOPIC OF THE MONTH ARCHIVES

Looking for a past issue of the Topic of the Month? They are in our archives. Remember, they are free—so please share them with your friends and family!