Tips to help keep your child safer on the Internet

First of all, decide what kind of parent you want to be

1. “Head in the sand” parent
• I don’t know much about the computers. I don’t know what to do.
• I trust that my child is using good judgment when on the Internet.
• My child “minimizes” windows on the computer when I come into the room but I am doing nothing about it.
• My child has good grades. They must be doing the right things.
• My child is a boy. Bad things on the Internet only happen to girls.
• Internet sexual solicitation of children does not happen in Fort Atkinson.
2. I am my child’s best friend
• When my child says “Trust me”; I always do.
• If I restrict my child’s access to the computer, he/she won’t like me.
• When my child says “all my friends have computers in their rooms”, it must be OK.
• I should not check on my child’s computer activity; it would be invading their privacy.
3. Parenting is not for wimps, it is my job. I will follow the steps below.

Communicate with your child

• Make sure your child knows you are concerned for his/her safety.
• Ask them what they do on the Internet. Have them show you.
• Ask to see any pages they have on-line. This includes “social networking” sites like MySpace.com or FaceBook.com

Supervise your child’s computer use

• Restrict your child’s access to the computer.
• Keep all computers in your home in a public area like the dining room, family room or living room.
• DO NOT ALLOW A COMPUTER IN YOUR CHILD’S BEDROOM or a basement rec room.
• Set times for your child’s computer use.
• Do not allow a web-cam on your computer.
• Install an Internet filter on all computers in your home.
• They are designed for parents to install.
• They cost about $50. Examples are www.bsafehome.com and www.safeeyes.com
• Some children may be able to get around these filters but most cannot.
• Restrict access to adult sites, chat rooms and social networking sites.
• Install monitoring software
• These are invisible programs that can be installed on your computer that take “snapshots” of the computer use for your review.
• They do not restrict your child from going to an objectionable site. Rather you can see where your child has been when on the computer.
• They cost $40-$100. www.guardiansoftware.com or www.spectorsoft.com
• Know where your child is accessing the Internet when they are not at your home
• Are they accessing the Internet from a computer in your child’s friend’s bedroom?
• Talk to your friend’s parents.
• Do they go to Internet Cafes?
• Be careful and monitor cell phone texting.
• Cell phone with cameras can be dangerous
• Talk to other parents

Learn more about safer use of the Internet, visit the sites below

• www.netsmartz.org
• http://www.safekids.com
• www.isafe.org
• www.familywatch.com
• www.netsmartz411.org
• www.parentalcontrolsoftwareguide.info/

If you are concerend that your child may be in danger with the Internet or any other matter, please contact officer Dan Courtirer at the Fort Atkinson Police Department; 563-7777 or at the High School, 563-7811, Ext. 1150

This page is not intended to be an exhaustive resource for keeping your child safe. Rather this guide will help you get started in keeping you child safer.

Additional note about your child’s access to the Internet while at school

The school district makes a concerted effort to block objectionable sites and keep your child safe while at school. Multiple filters are installed and monitoring software is installed on many computers. However these measures are not perfect and unintended access to objectionable sites may occur. If you do not want your child to have access to the Internet while at school, please contact the school principal.