Keep Kids Safe Online

Close Monitoring of Children's Online Activity is Good Parenting Sense

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I have three children, two in high school and one in elementary school. They are constantly on the computer, whether for school or chatting with their friends. I don't mind the time they spend on it, but I do get nervous about what they might be doing. What is the best way to monitor their Internet activity -- especially for my youngest son?

Signed,

Concerned Mom 

A:

Dear Concerned Mom,

Safety tips for children no longer include JUST don’t talk to strangers and don’t take candy from anyone you don’t know. There are many more dangers for children and teens than ever before. You're astute to recognize that you need to pay attention to your children's online behavior. Here are some tips for online safety:

  1. Recognize technology boom. If you’re still struggling with the VCR (does anyone still have one?), then you need to get with the program for safety’s sake. Schools use computers and online websites regularly now. They also expect students to be computer literate, have computer access and use computer websites for homework. Be involved in your student’s academic life, and know what teachers expect from your children in terms of online activity.
  2. Find out about parental controls. Your internet service provider will be able to tell you what parental controls are offered to your child, and you will have the option to lock out unsafe websites and access to certain areas of the cyber-world. However … understand that this is only on your computer in your home. Your child has access to computers at school, at public libraries and at friends’ homes.
  3. Unsupervised play-dates mean anything goes. Just because your little angel doesn’t do anything inappropriate doesn’t mean that the people he or she plays with don’t, or that the family members of the people he or she plays with don’t. Your child may have access to porn, unsafe websites and more freedom than you want for them on other people’s computers. Know where your child is, with whom, and make your concerns clear to the supervising adult.
  4. Don’t be naive. Porn websites are not the only places your child may have access to inappropriate images and reading material. Ads for clothing companies that sell to tweens, teens and even children, have sexualized their content to lure in curious kids. Beware. But even better — be prepared.
  5. Monitor your child’s browsing activity. Every now and then check the history of your child’s browsing. Only allow them MySpace or other “club” site passwords if you have access to the password. There are creeps out there who lurk as teens, when they’re actually adults looking for trouble. Your child may be the victim.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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