Guidelines for Parents with Kids in Cyberspace

• Talk with your kids about what they can and cannot do online. Be reasonable and set reasonable expectations. Get to know their needs, interests and curiosity level.  Think back to when you were their age and how curious new and forbidden things were to you.

• Be open with your teens and encourage them to come to you if they encounter a problem online. If they share with you something they’ve encountered, don’t blame them or take away their privileges.  Instead work with them on ways to avoid the problems in the future. Remember – how you respond will determine whether they confide in you the next time they come across the same situation.

• Educate yourself about the Internet and the World Wide Web. Since most kids know more about the Internet than their parents, “surfing the net” reverses your roles and lets your child be the teacher while you’re the student. Ask her to show you the sites she’s interested in and explain why.

• Check out blocking, filtering and ratings. There are services that rate web sites for content as well as filtering programs and browsers that allow parents to block the types of sites they consider inappropriate. Explain to your child why you feel a filter is necessary. Don’t expect the filter to take the place of a vigilant parent.