Related Links:
All Dream Team Topics:
- inspired ideas (210)
- arts and crafts (78)
- boredom busters (49)
- inexpensive ideas (40)
- healthy fun (38)
More Dream Team Tags
Take Back the Internet
Rated by 4 members
Our house was in a state that could only be described as "too quiet." Mommy-radar engaged, I took a quick stroll around the house to look for Julia, 9, and Henry, 7. When I found them, their eyes were locked on the computer screen and Julia was typing madly. The minute they saw me, their expressions revealed that they were not involved in one of our "approved" computer activities.
Through pointed questions, I learned that Julia has heard at school about some inappropriate pictures of one of her teen idols and was using Google to search the Internet for them. Scrolling through their searches, I breathed a huge sigh of relief (and thanked the spelling gods) — she'd spelled nude "newed" and therefore didn't get to any dangerous web sites.
My relief was short-lived as it sunk in that their computer usage had gotten away from us and that by letting our guard down we'd put our children in danger.
I considered grounding them from the computer forever, but ended up settling on two weeks. This situation called for some sound parental policy and I needed time to consult other parents and experts at our school to learn more about Internet safety.
The good news is that helpful information and savvy software exist to help us navigate this new and treacherous world. When my husband and I finished our research, we instituted a series of computer-related changes in our house. Here are our recommendations:
Even though I still feel nervous when they're on their computer, I know that Julia and Henry are far safer now than they were two weeks ago.
Member Comments On…
Take Back the Internet
Perhaps the flip side of this is what is "mental nutrition." There are so many good, nutritious uses for their time online. On NASA.gov, they can delve into the space missions. For older kids, they can get turned onto all sorts of science and arts from Ted.com, the online videos from the annual TED conferences. They can use Nationalgeographic.com to learn about the world around them. We do need to provide some scaffolding, some guidance, about the good things. Or even help them create their own content and show them how to safely share it. Otherwise, my 12 year old's friends are having a blast mashing up other people's videos and music -- which would be fine to keep at home -- but then are posting them on free websites. (They have moved on from wanting My Space and instead are avidly creating their own websites...if we push them to not go somewhere like MySpace, they of course will go somewhere else we don't know about...)
2 |
This article was excellent. I've been worried that my 5 and 2.5 year old children are on the computer too much...should probably not overlook these other computer issues, which do not apply now, but will creep up.
0 |
I just saw Bill Cosby on Oprah this week and he made an interesting point about how some parents will err on the side of not wanting to invade their kids' privacy. His message to parents was, remember that after all is said and done, it's your house. While there should be some lines drawn with respects to privacy (to ShannonR's point), mom & dad do have a right, and a duty, to be aware of what is taking place in their home when it involves safety.
2 |
We do not allow our children to be on the internet unattend, our computer is in the corner of our kitchen which is very centrally located within our house so we are always walking by. The only site they are allowed on is BigIdea.com the Veggietales site. They have fun, challenging sometimes silly games. When they are old enough like ready for college then we will teach them to navigate the web until then it is off limits.
0 |
As a grandmother raising 12,8 and 6 year old I worry more about their computer usage than anything else. Checking history and keeping the computer within eye sight is smart. We recieved a free trail of NOODLENET from www.vocalpoint.com/noodlenet that fills the screen with icons you enter and the child is unable to access anyother site and has all the security to keep them safe. Computers are great but they shouldn't be kids information center you should be.
3 |
Our responsibilities as a Parent/Adult requires us to look out for our children at all times. Installing the Web Nanny can help make that happen. Great ideas on how to keep our children safer while on the web.
0 |
Kids are naturally curious and they will find a way into sites that their parents don't approve of. Open and honest dialog is the best defense. Explain to them that if they go to these sites, they could introduce viruses to the pc. Losing their computer could enough to discourage them. At least for a while.
2 |
What a great article! I think the advice to keep the computer in a central location is the most important safety info here. What I tell my kids is that they can write whatever they want in a journal, and I would pluck my eyes out before I would read it. However, I will monitor what they do on Internet, because the Internet lets them communicate with other people, and it's my job as their mom to keep them safe from people who would do them harm. (And I really would never read their private journals!)
4 |
 |
