Internet  SafetyGuidelines for Parents

Jeff Dungan Dan Everett

Kris Sheehan

Safety Tips for 5 - 7 Year Old Children

5 to 7 Year Old Children:• should not be online alone• may be exposed to inappropriate sites through

hyperlinks or search results

Safety Tips:• Always sit with your kids when they are online• Use kid-friendly search engines (like yahoo kids)• Keep Internet connected computers in an open area• Start teaching your kids about privacy and teach

them not to give out information about themselves

Safety Tips for 8 - 10 Year Old Children

8 - 10 Year Old Children:• lack the critical thinking skills to be online alone• are vulnerable to online marketers and predators• begin to communicate with online acquaintances

they may have not met in real life

Safety Tips:• Create a list of Internet rules with your children• Sit with your kids when they are online and keep the

computer in an open area.• Establish a shared family email account

11 - 13 Year Old Children:• feel in control when it comes to technology• lack the critical thinking skills to judge accuracy of

information• are interested in building online relationships • may be bullied or may bully others Safety Tips:• Create a list of Internet rules with your kids• Keep Internet connected computers in an open area• Talk with your kids about online friends and activities• Teach kids to never give out personal information

when using email or other online activities

Safety Tips for 11-13 Year Old Children

CYBER-BULLYING:Using technology to harm another student's emotional or social well-being.

• Threatening or insulting emails or text messages.• Rumors or hateful things about a victim spread via email,

blogs, websites.• Unwanted pictures taken, then sent to many or posted

online.• Harassment using instant messaging (chatting).

Why Cyberbully?       Other Factors:

• Internet gives the freedom to to say things online that they would not say in person.

• Bully cannot see the consequences of their actions. (facial expression of victim)

• Less chance of getting caught

• Victims may not know who the bullies are. (anonymity)

• Victims may not report for fear of adults "freaking out" and removing internet privileges.

• Difficult to enforce at school.

What we are doing here at SAS to keep your kids safe online?

• All 3rd-5th graders and their Parents have signed the SAS Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

 • When introducing Blogging or other online collaborative

spaces tech integrators focus on staying safe and Appropriate Use.

 • Encourage students to self regulate/moderate online

activities of themselves and others in the class

What can you do with your child to ensure they are practicing good online behavior? • Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

 • Play online games with your kids

 • Communicate with your kids by email (you set up their

account) • Come up with a username that keeps your child's identity

hidden for use in online games, chat rooms, etc.

Do you know of any good sites I can use? 

• Woogi World is a great online, virtual space dedicated to helping parents and kids learn more about responsible internet use and safety  

• Go to YouTube and search for"Internet Safety". Watch and discuss some of these vids with your kids

• Have your kids get their "Web License" from PBSkids.org

Websites and Resources

• http://www.woogiworld.com/ •  http://www.kidzui.com/ is a "parallel" internet space just for

kids with parent approved material•  http://pbskids.org/license/•  http://www.ikeepsafe.org/• http://www.isafe.org Click on

"Parents and Outreach" link at the top.• http://4kids.org/safesurf/• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/ This is an

excellect Documentary on keeping kids safe online

Web Sites and Resources, Continued

Age Appropriate Guidelines Information taken from:WebAware:http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/default.aspx

Other sites:Microsofthttp://www.microsoft.com/protect/family/age/stages.mspx

GetNetWisehttp://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/