Computer Rules for Kids and Parents
Before you start letting your kids surf the web, it is important that everyone knows and understands the rules. Anyone who violates the rules should have computer use terminated immediately. Here are some simple and fair rules that will protect your children from the bad words, questionable content and outright filth that they might stumble across while on the internet, as well as rules that are meant to protect them from cons and scams too.
Rule One: You May Only Use This Browser
Limiting the browser type that your child might be allowed to use is important because you can set some of the browsers to only go to a certain set of websites. With some browsers, you can set the parental controls to block out certain websites while allowing others or you can filter them to a limited number of pre-approved sites. If you are not sure of how to set these controls or are just not confident in them, you could always opt for another avenue of defense – using a specifically designed kids browser, which has a number of benefits, including the ability to lock out the other browsers so the smart and savvy child cannot circumvent your protection.
Rule Two: Emails for Children are Never Private
Many children, even those as young as five or six, have an email address. They get emails and e-cards from granny and grampy or their aunts and uncles and little friends. Unfortunately, they will also get Viagra ads and more because spam happens and it happens to everyone. Preventing them from seeing questionable emails is as simple as creating a “safe” email contact list and getting kids email, to filter out bad words, images or attachments. In addition, with kids email, you get to know what is coming and going from that email account, because everything is automatically copied right to you. You can check and remove any unwanted attachments, images and links.
Rule Three: You Have a Time Limit
Not only does it make sense to limit where your child goes while online, it also makes sense to limit how long they are online. Both the kids email and kids browser option, can give you this power by limiting the length of time that the child can be logged onto the internet for each session.
Rule Four: There is No Such Thing as a Secret Password
You are the only one who gets to set passwords, period. If your child has a Facebook or other social media page account, you get the password for it. (If your child does have one of his or her own accounts, encourage them to set it to private rather than to public for their own safety.) You should be able to go into their page at any time so that you can see if they are giving away information that should be private or making friends that are questionable.
Rule Five: Computer Time is a Perk, Not a Right
There is nothing in the world that says that you have to give computer time to your children. They should be earning the right to the computer.
Jacob Andersen received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Utah State University. He is committed to using his knowledge and expertise to keeping kids safe online.”The safety of our children is the mission of KidsEmail.org and MyKidsBrowser.com,” Andersen said.”Any profits made are reinvested into the development and advertising of new child safety products.”
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