Internet Safety Tips For Parents: Elementary School

Teach Your Children The Following Rules:

• Never accept files or downloads from unknown sources; this includes familiar sources if you were not expecting them.
• Choose an email address/ screen name that DOES NOT contain any part of your name, age, gender, interests or favorite activities.
• Do Not fill out a profile without parent review and approval.
• Never give out real name, telephone or cell phone number(s), mailing address, or passwords.
• Do Not enter chat rooms.
• Do Not post photographs in publicly accessible sites.
• The settings for ANY social networking profiles* should be PRIVATE and new friends are accepted only if they are known to the child AND parent.

*Social networking sites include: MySpace, FaceBook, Bebo, etc.

Talk To Your Child About The Dangers Online

Your child should know that:

• Accepting files or downloads from unknown sources can bring a virus that could harm the computer.
• Giving away personal information can lead to identity theft or worse.
• People may not be who they say they are online -- predators roam cyberspace.

Open communication with your child is vital. Your child needs to feel they can come to you if they encounter frightening communications or images without fear of losing Internet privileges.

If you have a webcam, your child should use it ONLY if you are present. Posting pictures online or sending images can have dangerous consequences. Parents must control such activity.

Note to Parents: There are many organizations and activities in which your child may be involved that post information online in public locations. It is extremely important for you to pre-approve any information about your child that will be posted for the world to see. Remember, cyber predators are looking too.

Helpful Links:

Learn more about the Internet:

www.getnetwise.org

www.NetSmartz.org 

www.isafe.org

www.wiredsafety.org

Filtering Software:

www.filterreview.com

www.getnetwise.org

Internet Safety:

www.nmag.gov/pdf/InternetSafetyGuide Parents07.pdf

www.getnetwise.org

www.Netsmartz411.org

www.isafe.org

www.netsmartz.org

www.wiredsafety.org

If You Suspect That Your Child Has Been Contacted By Predator:

• Notify law enforcement or
• File a complaint online at www.missingkids.com or
• Call the Office of the Attorney General at 505-222-9000 and ask for an Internet Crimes Against Children investigator.