Keeping Children Safe on the Internet...Part 2

In my last post, I began a discussion about keeping your child safe on the internet. I'd like to continue in this post with even more things parents can do. As I've said in many other posts, keep the lines of communication open between you and your child. Spend time with your child online as he or she browses the internet. Have him or her show you favorite sites and have a conversation about these sites. Also, talk to your child about the potential dangers online. Tell them to never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they've met online. Instruct them to never post pictures of themselves on the Internet to people they do not personally know off of the computer. Parents should also instruct their children to never give out identifying information such as their name, address, school name, or telephone number. Tell your child to never download pictures from an unknown source or respond to messages that are suggestive or obscene. Lastly, make sure your child knows that not everything they read or see on the Internet is true. As always, communication is key. Do everything within your power to keep open lines of communication with your child at all times!