Millions of students all over the world rush to their computer to do their school research online. With this, the internet’s role in the learning of growing minds is undeniable. However, as parents, we should also understand that not all things in the internet are good and suitable for your kids. Here are some things you should tell your kids to safe surfing.
Assure your children that you trust them
You know you can’t keep your kids off the computer, especially when you’re not around. So your best bet is to make them feel that you trust them, they need that assurance.
Set your expectations about them clearly
Set your expectations based on the age and maturity of your kids. Do they have a list of websites they want to visit for playing and for doing their research? Are they allowed to use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter? What type of sites are they allowed to visit and join for fun? Write all these rules down, and tape it next to the computer. You can ask your child’s teacher on what sites they usually need for school works and educational fun.
Tell your kids about the filtering system
Download (buy or get the free ones) and install filtering software in your computer to keep them from accessing inappropriate sites and tell them about the software. Make sure you make them understand that it’s not about limiting them; rather, it’s about keeping them safe from all the opportunistic individuals lurking on the internet. Furthermore, never forget that these sites are not substitutes for supervision.
If you’re using tracking software on the sites they visit, then again, make them understand you’re not spying, rather doing your job as a parent – supervising your kids.