CyberSafety - the basics

The 21 st century parenting skill In the technological age we now live in it’s as important to teach children and young people CyberSafety as it is to teach them how to cross the road

What’s needed The right computer skills Attitude to this problem is just as important

As a parent you should … Be hands-on and involved with your children when it comes to new technology Set the boundaries Strike a balance between freedom and trust on the one hand and rules and caution on the other

As a parent you should: Talk openly about the subject Do not simply regard installing parental control as the answer - young people can often find a way around the technical obstacles parents set Remember that you will not be able to watch over them all the time

The basics You’ll need to: Learn a few skills Learn some new jargon Be calm and sensible Work together with children Install technical safety features

Setting the groundrules You’ll know only too well as a parent that if you tell a child not to do something then, the chances are, they will – so be prepared to negotiate Be sensitive when you discuss the potential dangers with them

Setting the groundrules It’s a good idea to help children see for themselves how they might get into difficulties How you present your safety rules is important - you’ll probably find that they’ll respond more positively if you represent things as a way for them to be ‘cool’ on the Internet

Setting the groundrules Post the rules you mutually agree near the computer as a reminder Monitor their compliance with these rules

The right attitude Teach resilience You want your children to be able to take care of themselves and to know when to ask for help when they’re not sure what to do

What doesn’t work Spying and lecturing - the best way is to collaborate with and to educate your children

Age matters As a parent you need to know the appropriate way to be involved with your children’s use of the Internet The extent to which you are directly involved will vary according to the age of the child

Parental control software Typical features: Control over the websites and content that can be viewed Control over what can be downloaded and installed Regulation of the times the computer can be used

Spotting the warning signs Look for behavioural and attitude changes: Spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet, particularly at night Spending time in chat rooms, especially unmoderated ones (these are ones where there is no supervision)

Spotting the warning signs Downloading image files - these are computer files with names ending in the letters.jpg,.gif,.bmp,.tif and.pcx Receiving phone calls from strangers and having meetings with people you don’t know

General tips Locate the computer in a family room where you can see it – it’s not a good idea for it to be tucked away in a bedroom Listen and learn – find out from children about computers and how they use the Internet Be understanding - remember what it was like when you were their age.

Don’t be afraid to be a parent Remember that - while children need a certain amount of privacy - they also need parental involvement and supervision in their daily lives