Internet Safety Tips for Parents

• Have the family computer in an open area - Never in your child’s bedroom.
    
• Become a part of your child’s online experience - It can be a fun journey to explore the wonders of the Internet as a family. As computer-savvy as kids and teens are today, they may even teach you a thing or two!
    
• Review your computer files often - Check the ‘cookies’ folder, cache files, temporary files and Internet files. When you see a questionable address, check it out yourself.
    
• Teach your child the responsible use of the resources online - There is much more to the on-line experience than chat rooms.
    
• Communicate - Talk to your child about sexual victimization and potential on-line dangers.
    
• Respect your child’s privacy - Rather than ‘policing’ your child’s online behavior, keep the lines of communication open with your child. Let them know that you are their teammate and they can come to you if they ever find themselves in uncomfortable situations.
     
• Learn about the Internet - The more you know about how the Internet works, the more you can be informed about how online predators work and what you can do to stop them.
    
• Talk to other parents - Talk with other parents about experiences in their homes.