How to E-Train Your Child

Set strict rules when e-training your child.

Years ago, getting a bedroom telephone line was the rite of passage from child to adolescent. The phone was a sign that parents trusted their older child with private phone calls and other responsibilities. Today, the Internet is the gateway from childhood to adolescence. Many prepubescents aged 12 through 14 now clamor for independent access to the Internet. So parents need to lay down rules for home Internet use to ensure the child's safety.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Add privacy controls on your browser to protect children from adult content. The top two browsers, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, have built-in privacy controls under their Tools sections. Set the controls on medium to high so the browser can act as a filter.

2. Create an email account for the child. On the Internet, your child will require a Web identity. Create an email account with your child and link it to your own account. This privacy control gives you access to her emails. Unless the child will be corresponding with her teachers, do not use her name as part of the user name.

3. Set time limits. The average user spends three recreational hours per day on the Internet. Limit your child to no more than one hour a day. You may even break this up into 20-minute segments. You want your child to continue engaging in extracurricular activities. This limit ensures your child will spend more time engaging in social interactions offline.

4. Restrict photo sharing to family and friends. Allow your child to enter into social networks, but restrict what he can share. Make sure photos of family and friends are only accessible with a password. Do not allow them to post pictures that display identifying information in the background of the picture, such as school names, address numbers and street signs.

5. Be a sleuth, not a snoop. Join your child's social network, but don't make your presence known. Try not to interact with your child there. You want her to be free to interact with friends and family members, while aware that you may see what they're sharing. In short, linger, but don't snoop.

6. Discuss online dangers, such as cyber stalking and illegal file sharing. Suggest appropriate, kid-friendly websites to browse.

7. Be aware of warning signs. Look out for signs of new relationships. For instance, watch if new friends call your home number or packages arrive in the mail. If these are from names you're not familiar with, your child may be engaging in an unacceptable cyber relationship.

Tips & Warnings

• Remind your child that an email address is just as important as a home address.

• Use Backtype to track your child's online identity.

• Heavy Internet usage can be a symptom of social withdrawal.

References

• InfoZooms; 7 Must Read Tips on Kid’s Internet Usage and Safety; June 9, 2010