SAFE SURFING by Rose Muenker

That old line, "Great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there," could easily apply to cyberspace. Most parents are as acutely aware of the Internet's child safety risks as they are of its incredible opportunities for learning and entertainment.

With news stories about children being approached online — and eventually harmed — by sexual predators, Internet safety is just another thing for parents to worry about in our high-tech, fast-moving world.

"In this day and age, we have to talk to our children about personal safety, both in person and online," says Chris Lobanov-Rostovsky, program manager for the Sex Offender Management Unit, Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Bureau of Investigation. We need to educate our kids about safe Internet practices, and we need to monitor their online activities regularly, he says.

With that in mind, here are three steps to help ensure that your kids surf the Internet safely:

Talk With Your Kids

Start a conversation with your children about the need for online safety. Help them understand that the Internet is like a stranger on the street and they should not share personal information, such as where they live. "Tell them to trust their gut," Lobanov-Rostovsky advises, "and let them know they can talk to you without fear of getting into trouble."

Create Safety Rules

Set up clear rules about what your children are permitted to do online. For an excellent resource on safe online practices, check out www.safekids.com. Founded by technology journalist Larry Magid, this is one of the oldest and most respected Internet safety sites. Have your kids click on Kids' Rules for Online Safety to read 10 clear and simple rules for surfing and interacting on the Internet.

"I like it because it is written at a child's level, is not too scary, and gives kids a feeling of power to help their parents and be in control of their Internet use," says Sandi Erickson, who heads Children's Information Services at the Jefferson County Public Library.

Among the rules:

♦ Never give out personal information (such as personal phone numbers, home address, school name and address, etc.); and

♦ Never agree to meet someone in person who has contacted you online, without first checking with your parents.

Make Your Computer Safe for Surfing

Set parental controls on the family computer. Most Internet providers give you the option to control which categories of Web sites your children can view, who they can contact through email or Internet messaging, what types of files they can download, and more. This helps protect your kids from inappropriate content while still giving them freedom to explore the Internet.

To monitor your children's Internet use more easily, put the computer in a common area, like the family room, and casually ask them about the sites they are viewing. Away from home, children's libraries in Colorado are a safe place for kids to surf. By law, their computers are filtered, and activity is monitored by library staff.

	HOW TO IDENTIFY SAFE SITES Children's libraries and similar organizations use several key criteria to assess whether a Web site is safe for kids. You can do the same by asking yourself the following questions: Does the site have meaningful and useful content that educates, informs or entertains? Does it ask for personal information as the main requirement to use it? If it does, go elsewhere. Does it have excessive pop-up ads or notices? These confuse kids and may lead them to sites that are not safe. Are the ads appropriate for children and related to the site's content? Safe sites select their ads carefully. Does it name the publisher/sponsor and provide contact information? You need to know who operates the site and how to reach them. Does it have a section that describes its privacy policy and how it uses personal information? This indicates compliance with federal regulations to protect children online. SAFE WEB SITES FOR KIDS Funschool funschool.kaboose.com Interactive online coloring books, printable coloring pages and games for preschoolers cover a variety of topics, from the ABCs to how things are built. The site also has activities for children up through sixth grade. National Geographic for Kids kids.nationalgeographic.com Through stories, games and photos, elementary school kids learn about a range of subjects. Categories include animals and nature, people and places, science and space, and history. Sesame Street www.sesamestreet.org Preschoolers can watch videos and do interactive games about a variety of subjects, including counting, getting along with others, and health. World Heritage Pointer www.worldheritagepointer.com Through the adventures of a dog named Sonya, kids age 6 to 12 learn about the world's geography, history, culture and wildlife. Puzzles and games build on each story's content. The Yuckiest Site on the Internet www.yucky.com While elementary school kids play games and ask Wendel the Worm gross questions, they learn about science in the process on this Discovery Kids site. ONLINE SAFETY RESOURCES Get Net Wise www.getnetwise.org Web safety tips presented by the Internet industry and several corporations and public interest organizations. A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm The FBI's guide to signs that your child may be at risk online, what to do if you suspect your child is talking online with a possible sexual predator, and preventative steps to take to ensure safe surfing on the Web. Safekids.com www.safekids.com/kids/rules.htm Founded by technology journalist Larry Magid, this this site offers parents and kids safety tips and rules for online surfing, downloading and social interaction. Click on the 10 "Kids' Rules for Online Safety."

Published in Colorado Parent Education & Enrichment Guide 2008