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Safe browsing for your kids

Safe browsing for your kids
(by Rozeena Khan)

Internet is no longer a B.D (big deal) in many urban areas of Pakistan, so is the usage by our kids. Many kids are taking to the internet with such a ease and confidence, automatically raising concern over the quality of contents available online. Its a place enriched with all kind of information you could think of including the material that can make your child uncomfortable. A number of our kids spent their internet hours chatting with their friends which includes real world as well as cyber world friends where Sana indicating to be 12 years old girl is not necessarily be Sana or even female in reality. I mean everything your child is reading online may not be true. Some Kids even go further through providing their personal information to cyber friends (i.e, phone numbers, address, credit card numbers, father name or his jobbing nature etc.).

Being a parents you can greatly minimize online risks for your kid through setting up some reasonable online computer rules. Remember that imposing these rules harshly or denying your child internet access may create some bigger problems; like you will be closing the doors of information, essential to your children education and they may start going to cyber cafes where they can more spoil themselves.

It's very difficult to determine that how your child will take this opportunity of getting online. Internet opens up exciting new world for children, but it can also be a portal into situations a parent know nothing about. This has raised the question of "SAFE SURFING" for your child. We would like to help you. Please consider following guidelines for parents.


Knowing computer by yourself
Today kids are more familiar with computer and other related technology then their parents. If that's the case in your home then don't despair. Its easy, infect you don't have to understand internal working of your computer. You can use this as an opportunity to turn the tables by having your child teach you internet and related usage. Enjoy this opportunity to have some fun together, while explaining to them that what is and what isn't appropriate for them and why. This is the time for sharing, not of enforcement and patrolling; make it a fun and productive for your own computer knowledge.

Placing your child's computer
Consider keeping the computer in the most public area at your home like living room rather then the child's bedroom because it is the easiest way for you to monitor their computer activities. Its not a matter of trusting your child to do the right thing; its merely a matter of supervision and information. You probably wouldn't feel comfortable dropping your child off at the playground without keeping an eye on them right? The same principles hold here.

Internet usage timing rules
Create a time table for getting online of your child to ensure that your child does not become internet addict. Encouraging their other interests will also help. Too many children get compulsive about chatting and forget to play with their real friends and rarely play outdoor with physical activity. Help them find a healthy balance.

Use internet with your child
Spend time with your child in a friendlier way while he/she is online. Find out what your children's interest are, like what type of web sites they prefer to visit. Ask them to show you around the internet and talk about their cyber friends (if any) and what do they feel about them. But don't ambush them and make it look like you are spying on them.

Bookmark web sites
You should Bookmark many of the frequently visited or new web sites for your child. Because there is always a risk of getting redirected to a site that your child did not intended to visit.

Make your child Net Wise
Being online first time is lot like being in a new world. There are wonderful places to go, things to see and do, and people to meet. Make sure your child understand that web has places that are not safe or appropriate for them and people who are not as they would like you to believe. Because you can't see or even hear them, it would be easy for someone to misrepresent himself/ herself.

Give your child confidence
Its not just required in real life but also while your child is using internet. Talk to them about the things that they may encounter online. You don't have to scare them, but make them aware of the possible dangers. Let them communicate with you openly. Don't get angry if you see some porn at their computer screen because often access to porn sites happens accidentally.

Monitor their online activities, Educational progress and Behavior changes
It's a good idea to place your child's computer at a common area of your home, so you can keep an eye on things. You can also check the web browser's History file to see what type of site they access. Check with your child's school to see his/her overall school statistics, you may arrange parents-teacher meeting to communicate with class teacher personally. Watch the changes in your child's behavior (i.e., secretiveness, sleeping problem, inappropriate sexual knowledge) etc. If your child becomes uneasy or defensive when you walk into the room, this could be a sign that he or she is up to something unusual. Explain to them politely that although a person is alone in a room using computer but once logged on he or she is no longer alone.

Using filtering and Blocking softwares
Blocking softwares block a predefined list of bed sites. Some software even allow you to customize bed sites list. Filtering block bed site looking at the "key word" that you believe might be contained in a site that should be blocked. Infect many of the softwares, such as Net Nanny, CyberPatrol, CyberSitter, SurfWatch perform these functions. Not all these softwares let your child know they are tracking them. Its good to hear that Govt. of Pakistan has started blocking many porn sites. Frankly, you can not just block all these bed web sites from within approximately over 4 millions existence sites. As soon as you block one, other hundred sites pop up. Many parents still find that installing such softwares gives them additional peace of mind, but it can never be a substitute of supervising your child's online activities by yourself.

A great way to protect your children is to show them how to use the internet safely and positively. The internet provides wonderful information and it can help your children expend their horizons in ways that previous generations never knew. By taking an active role in your children's internet activities, you will be ensuring that they can benefit from the wealth of child-friendly information the internet has to offer.

Related

>Agree Upon few internet rules with your child

>Internet Story (by Sadia Rehman from Karachi, Pakistan). Story is about an internet related incident occurred with the writer. A must read for internet geeks. Read Story.
Bookmark

You can easily store web site addresses by ‘bookmarking’ them, instead of writing it on the address bar every time you try to access that web sit. You can bookmark by following these simple steps:
  • For Internet Explorer 5 + :On the main menu click on Favorites. Click on ‘Add to Favorites’. Type in a name for the page you wish to bookmark, and click OK.

  • For Internet Explorer 4 + :On the main menu click on Favorites. Click on 'Add to Favorites'. Type in a name for the page you wish to bookmark, and click OK.

  • For Netscape Navigator 6 +:On the main menu click on the Bookmarks menu item. Select Add Bookmark. The page will then be added to your bookmarks, and named as per the page title.

  • For Netscape Navigator 4 +:On the main menu click on the Communicator menu item. Select Bookmarks and then Add Bookmark. The page will then be added to your bookmarks, and named as per the page title.

History file for Internet Explorer
  • To view the History: There is a history button on the top, or you can click on "View" the "Explorer Bar" then "History". Or press control key and "h" key together.

  • To clear History: Click on "View" then "Internet Options" then click on "Clear History" button on the history section.

History file for Netscape
  • To view the History: Click on "Communicator" then "History". On some version it is Communicator> Tools> History. Or press control key and "h" key together.

  • To clear History: Click on "Edit" then "Preferences" then click on "Clear History" button on the history section.

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