Guidelines to keep your student safe
Below are some ways to help you communicate with your child about safety on the internet. What works with one child may not work with another so please integrate these suggestions as you see fit for your particular situation.
Help your children learn to use the internet in a safe way
Become informed about the internet so you can make sound judgments when questions arise. One way to be informed about what your child may encounter on the Internet is to take some time to navigate the internet yourself and learn more about the uses of this technology.
Some great websites to start with would be the following:
SafeKids for students - offers "Kids' Rules for Online Safety" a list of precautions that parents can review with their child.
Online Safety Guidelines for Parents - SafeKids.com website is a family guide to making the internet and technology safe, fun, and productive. Contains information about safe blogging, chat room safety, and privacy issues.
Make sure that your children feel comfortable coming to you with questions or comments about what they see online
Do not overreact if things go wrong. Children may stumble upon inappropriate information on the internet in the process of being appropriate on the internet. Your child should know they can come to you and share this information without being punished. It is better to educate your children about how to use the internet safely and provide guidelines for safe use. For older children, ultimatums and bans may backfire since there are many places other than home where children can get on the internet.
Tell your child not to give out personal information
This includes their name, school, telephone number, address, photos, credit card numbers, or information about themselves, friends, or family. Explain that they do not have to fill out forms or answer questions on the Internet. Online contests may be another way to collect information. Tell your children not to give credit card numbers or enter into financial transactions without your approval. They need to be careful about what they say in chat rooms since they do not know who is online.
Teach your child to evaluate information on the internet
Children need to know that they should not believe everything that they find or receive on the internet. Their safety and the quality of their schoolwork depend on their learning to tell the difference between reliable and unreliable information.
Take the time to investigate this issue with the On Line Learning Provider of your choice and investigate their policies for citing works during the process of conducting school research.
Tell your children not to arrange face-to-face meetings or telephone calls with people they have met only online
…and to let you know if someone they have met online wants to arrange a meeting. Explain that some people on the internet pretend to be something quite different from what they are. Talk to your children and ask them to keep you informed about their online friends. Children should not accept gifts from strangers online.
For more information about On Line Predators please investigate these websites:
ProtectKids.com - describes how to exercise caution while using the internet, especially in terms of developing relationships online, criminal behavior, and child exploitation.
NetSmartz.org - an engaging website that offers a variety of interactive tools and games to keep kids and teens safer on the internet. This website informs all levels of children, parents, and educators.
Tell them to let you know if they receive bullying or abusive messages online
Inform the school or your child's teacher if your child is being bullied online by other children in the school or receiving abusive communication over the internet. Just because your child is enrolled in an on line school does not mean that bullying behaviors cannot occur. Be aware of the dangers of this form of bullying and now it occurs.
For more information pertaining to on line bullying investigate these websites:
BeSafeOnline - geared especially to parents and teachers who want to promote responsible use of email, chat, and instant messaging by students.
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence - a parents' guide to bully prevention and building self-esteem in your child.
Tell your children not to post anything that could hurt others or have a negative effect
Information that they put on the internet may be seen by friends, strangers, teachers, and, later, even colleges and employers who may be considering them. Material posted to blogs is very hard to remove from public view. Posting to newsgroups may make their email address public.
As a parent you may want to become familiar with the websites your child is using and know more about them and how your child is posting on them. It is important for your child to make a list of all user names and passwords to all sites they use and share this with you.
In addition the online school you choose may have a safe place in which to post school appropriate information such as a protected school discussion board or a place such as efolio created by the Minnesota College system for students.
Put the computer in an open area of the home (living room, family room, kitchen) and position the screen so it can be seen by others
While parents cannot always observe students as they use the internet, it is best to keep the computer in an open area and encourage children to exercise good judgment in how they surf.
Tell your children to protect passwords and not to give them to friends (not even their best friend)
Being savvy on the internet is part of being an on line learner and any on line learning student must understand that allowing others access to their passwords may be the integrity of their school work in danger.
Consider using filters, anti virus, and firewall software to keep your computer secure and protected
Update regularly. However, do not rely too much on technical tools. Parents can be lulled into thinking things are safer than they may be. Safety depends on children’s knowing safe behavior and having open communication with parents.
Help your children learn to develop good internet practices when using the internet
Tell them to be careful about opening ads or email from unfamiliar addresses since these can sometimes carry viruses, cause damage, or bring large quantities of additional unwanted email and ads. Tell your children to ask you before they download files or install software that might damage the computer.
Encourage your child to be honest and ethical about work that is submitted for class
They need to learn that they should not plagiarize or claim someone else's work as their own. They also need to know that it is against the law to publish on the internet writing, music, art, or other works that were created and copyrighted by someone else. They may be surprised to learn that teachers can often detect use of borrowed phrases or sentences and may be using special software to detect plagiarism.
Monitor your child’s time on the computer so that it is not excessive
Balance in life is important and they should take breaks. When investigating any on line learning program ask how much time is required or suggested to be completed each week on the computer. Many programs offer activities both on and off the computer. Remember that your child will be spending a significant amount of their day on the computer for school work and even if they enjoy the computer you may have to enforce time limitations on the computer.
Make sure that you and your children understand laws
Especially make them aware of laws relating to copyright, privacy, software piracy, hacking, threats, and obscenity. All of this is part of being a citizen in the internet world and both child and families must understand these concepts.
Be alert if your child seems to be using the internet inappropriately.
Your child’s changing the web browser window when you walk in and receiving calls from people you do not know may raise questions in your mind. Your child’s typing "POS" (message lingo for “parent over shoulder”) certainly will! In many cases, your child may have legitimate reasons for wanting privacy as he or she writes friends but it is wise to be alert to signs that your child may be using the internet in a way that can bring harm.
Parents should report pornography or offensive materials that come to your child on the internet
Law enforcement is much better trained today. Even cyber bullies and criminals who use anonymous email accounts or other methods to hide their identity can often be traced. Inappropriate activity must be reported quickly, however, to be tracked down. Print or save copies of threatening email or of offensive Internet material. Report online pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at the toll-free number: (800) 843-5678.
Let your child understand that you, as their parent, want to protect them
Communicate and work together as you both keep learning new ways to use the internet in a safe manner.
Advice for children of different ages
Ages 2-7: Very close supervision is recommended. Select sites for them and set up bookmarks to make it easier for them to go to these sites. Limit email to a list of friends and family you have approved. Use filters to limit accidental access to unsuitable material.
Age 8-11: Emphasize safe behavior and be actively involved. Investigate chat rooms or online clubs that your child wants to join. Consider use of filtering and other similar software.
Ages 12-18: The internet becomes an essential tool for their schoolwork and projects. Continue to discuss internet safety even as it becomes less possible for you to supervise their access. Remind your teenagers that it is very hard to remove material that they have posted on blogs and that their email address may appear on public postings. Help your teenager understand laws related to privacy, software piracy, hacking and other issues.
Source: North American Council for Online Learning www.nacol.org
Page last updated in August 2008.
K-12 Online Learning
