There are people out there who are not who they say they are.  They will tell you what they think you want to hear to get close to you.  Always think while online, if you are not chatting with a friend, don’t believe what you read.  Use your common sense and follow these rules and your parent’s guidelines:

»         Do not meet with someone you meet online or have them visit you

»         Keep your identity private, never give out your real name, address, or phone number

»         Don’t respond to any comments online that make you feel uncomfortable or are inappropriate in any way

»         Ask your parents before going online and know parents ground rules for surfing and chatting

»         Tell your parents at once if you read anything online that makes you feel uncomfortable

»        Think before posting photo online.  Is the photo file name your name?  Think about the type of photo you are posting, would you like your parents to see this photo or maybe a future employer?

Remember, follow these simple rules and use your common sense online for a safe and fun time.

Become educated about the internet and cyberspace.  Establish clear “house rules” as to computer and internet usage and post near the monitor.  Remember there is no magic bullet  out there to protect our children, it is up to us as parents to protect them.  Do the following to set you off in the right direction:

»         Place computer in the family room or other high traffic area that can be monitored

»         Look for filtering programs and contact your online service provider to see if they have filtering or monitoring options

»         Talk with your children and encourage them to be open with you if they encounter a problem or feel uncomfortable online

»         Have reasonable expectations and understand your children’s curiosity and online interests

»         Know who your children are emailing and only let them in chat rooms when you are present

»        Be aware of other computers your child may be using

»         Talk with your children and be reasonable.  Establish trust and they will communicate with you about their online experience

»        Read website’s privacy statement before giving personal information

There is a whole world of information for our children to learn and grow.  Let’s do it safely.