The Internet can be an exciting experience that broadens your child’s world. Unfortunately, it can be dangerous too. Keep your child safe with theses ground rules:
- Put the computer in plain view (family room or kitchen) so you can monitor your child while she’s online. Post Internet rules nearby. Example: Use only after homework is done, only when a parent is home and no more than 30 minutes a day.
- Make sure your middle grader never posts pictures of herself online or gives out her name, age, address, phone number, city, school, or any other personal information. Also, insist that she never arrange a meeting with someone she meets on the Internet.
- Keep an eye on chat rooms by asking your child what she and her friends are talking about. Encourage her to tell you if something online makes her uncomfortable, and let her know not to respond to online bullying or rude messages. If she receives inappropriate messages, report them to your online provider—and tell her you are doing so.
Source: Reprinted with permission from Middle Years (C) 2006 Resources for Educators, a division of Aspen Publishers, Inc.