Five Secrets for Parents to Help Encourage Responsible Use of the Internet
Web Site: Responsible Kids Network
Children are increasingly using the Internet for schoolwork,research, communicating
through e-mail and live chat, and downloading information like music files
and streamline video. As technology progresses and children find even more
need to use the Internet, parents must develop clear-cut and consistent
rules while children are online.
Establishing these rules can be quite a challenge for many parents. Since
most children over the age of 10 or 11 probably know more about the Internet
than mom or dad, it's imperative that parents continue to absorb what's
available to children and communicate and teach responsibility while spending
time online.
Many parents want to rely solely on content filtering software or kid-safe
Web sites, but many times this is just not enough. As children grow with
the ever-changing online landscape, parents must make sure children are
prepared to handle the content increasingly available to them.
Here are five secrets parents can use to encourage safe and responsible
use of the Internet:
Place your family's computer in a room in the house that is centrally located
and easy for parents to walk by to monitor or participate in what a child
is viewing. It is recommended not to let a child have a computer in his/her
room or behind closed doors. This will only contribute to a child's false
sense of security while on-line and hinder parents' efforts to stay involved
in what children are doing while using the computer.
Limit the amount of time a child spends on-line. Like any other activity,
using the Internet should be done in moderation and not interfere with other
healthy activities for children. Once a child chooses to spend time on-line
rather than interacting with other children face-to-face, or his/her other
interests seem to always come second to the computer, then it may be time
to review with the child how important is to show moderation while enjoying
the Internet.
Spend time with children online. Get involved with a child's interests on
the Internet. If a child is chatting with friends, e-mailing jokes back
and forth, or playing on-line games, a parent must keep up to date on the
various goings on. Sit down next to the child and observe what they are
using the computer for. Parents need to help children explore the vast resources
of the Internet, and educate them (and themselves) on what the Internet
has to offer. Surfing the Internet with a child or establishing a joint
e-mail account between parent and child will also help parents stay in touch.
Monitor what your children are doing and where they are going while online.
This can be the trickiest of challenges for parents, but it is so vital
to make sure children do not stray into areas of the Internet that contain
inappropriate (even harmful) material. If a child strays from pre-designated
safe Web sites, parents should use healthy parenting skills such as reinforcing
agreed upon parameters (even taking away online privileges as a consequence
of not following rules).
Set up a "responsible use contract" between parents and children. Using
e-mail, surfing the Web and downloading flies are all activities that children
will be using while connected to the Internet and parents need to make agreements
with children on responsible behavior. By establishing the rules of responsible
use early, there should be no confusion as to what is considered responsible
and safe use of the Internet. (A FREE "contract" is available at
The Internet offers children unprecedented access to incredibly valuable
information and it's up to parents to promote responsible online use.
Marty W. Stewart is author of "How to Survive the Internet
With Your Kids," and "101 Tips on How to Survive the
Summer With Your Kids." Have questions about parenting
and the Internet? Email Marty:
FREE Family Internet Survival Guide
"How to Survive the Internet With Your Kids"