You can set up all the safety locks and passwords imaginable but children will always find a away round them. So I truly believe that the only way you can keep them safe is by
- sitting with them
- setting boundaries
- trusting them whilst they are on the internet.
SITTING WITH THEM
I know this is not always feasible to sit with them and it also depends on the age of the child, sitting with a 16 year old will probably do more damage to your relationship then anything else!SETTING BOUNDARIES
Even at the this young age we have already set up rules about using the computer -
- Always ask first before using it
- He tells us exactly what he wants to look at
- He only uses it for a certain amount of time
- If uses Google or You Tube Mummy or Daddy must be present.
This type of technology is going to be second nature to his generation, it is almost going to seem foreign to him to go to the library and look at actually books for answers.
As he grows up we will still have limitations on using the computer. Plus to help him with homework I will show him other ways of finding out the information, the Library, visiting places, asking people who it effected, watching documentaries. The internet is not the 'be all and end all'.
TRUSTING THEM
As all children grow up, them want independence and the opportunity to slowly act like adults. I think that surfing the internet is included in this.
I am going to try to keep my relationships with my children very open, I want them to be able to talk to me about anything! So if anything does happen where alarms bells start to ring in my head, I am able to deal with it calmly and within a pre-established trustworthy relationship. Hopefully my children will be able to talk to me about any problems or issues they may have.
With all this said, one very important thing remains.
You must always show that you have control within your home regardless of their age.