Got a question? Just type it into any of the search engine available in your computer and the Internet can provide the answer.
Why not, it has the largest compilation of information about the world that people, including children as early as three years old, benefit from today.
Yes, gone were the days when kids play only with their toys.
They enjoy playing games online and even chatting! But, Internet also poses risk for children because pornography and gambling have also invaded the online world.
Moreover, heavy use of the Internet can do harm to them, including affecting their peer relations and attention to their studies.
Children should not spend too much time on the Internet and should live a normal social life.
As parent, you should, therefore, make sure that your child is safe using the Internet-even when you are not around! Educate your child about the proper use of the Internet.
It is important that your child is informed about when to use the Internet: to do research works and assignments.
In this way, he will grow up using the Internet responsibly.
Keep his password(s).
Your child should not be the one to keep his password(s).
You should be or else, do not allow him to create accounts on social networking sites.
But, if he is begging you to allow him because his friends are there, give him your approval.
But, as said earlier, the password should come from you so that he will not be able to access it when you are away.
Use kid-friendly search engines.
There are kid-friendly search engines, such as Yahooligans and MSN Kids, which filter out content that is not advisable for children.
There are also other search engines that have parental control.
Educate yourself.
Yes, you also have to educate yourself to know how you can make sure that your child is safe on the Internet even while you are away.
Know how you will be able to monitor the web sites he browsed and block the web sites he should not surf.
Limit his computer sessions.
Set a 'curfew', such as one hour only after studying.
In this way, he will know his limitations on computer use, and he will get used to it.
Post your rules in a wall near the computer.
Prepare a list of all the rules regarding the use of computer and Internet.
Post it in a wall near the computer so that he may see it each time he is using the computer and accessing the Internet.
These rules can increase as long as you see the need to do so.
Remember, this is to make sure that he is not doing any terrible thing on the Internet.
But, along with these rules, explain everything to your child.
Because the rules are piling up, he may not be able to understand if these rules do not go hand in hand with explanations.