Some may forget that it is summer time and so they have to take extra precautions to manage their children online safety during the entire summer. Kids and teens alike (along with their friends and peers) will realistically have more time to get online and try to do all sorts of things. Some of us may already know how to protect them from the vast amount of dangers online, while others may not or do not remember. Below is some information to inform or remind us:

“How To Keep Your Kids Safe Online”

Being online is part of the world of every kid these days. For teenagers it’s the main way of communicating with friends (along with their cell phones), while younger ones use it for gaming (such things as Runescape, for example) and research. It’s an inescapable fact of life, and kids spend an average of 16 hours a week online – a figure that continues to rise. But how safe are they in cyberspace?

….With younger kids, keep the computer in the living room, where it’s easy for you to supervise everything. Put a limit on how long they can be online each day, and make sure they adhere to it. Make sure you kids never share an e-mail address, or, if chatting online, that they never give their real name.

It’s also important that they know not to register with any site unless they have your specific permission, and that if any situation arises where they feel uncomfortable, they should come and tell you immediately.

You should have a pop-up blocker, and make your children very aware that they should not click on any pop-up or link that appears on screen. With younger ones, have them come and fetch you if one shows.

Above all, take the time to talk to your children about things they can find online, and how dangerous it can be. Communication between parents and children can be a powerful tool in itself.

Please read more at: http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6204215