JACKSON, Miss. -- During national "Safe Kids Week 2009," April 26 to May 3, Attorney General Jim Hood offered parents some simple tips to help keep their children safe while surfing the Internet.
"We're living in a day and time when children know more than their parents about the Internet," said Hood. "Parents need to educate themselves, at least enough to check their computer's history. Even easier, purchase monitoring software to do the job for you.
"Above all, communication is key," Hood said. "Talk to your children about what is acceptable Internet usage and what is not. Remember, it is your computer, not theirs."
The attorney general reminds parents that while the Internet is a great tool that can open a child's world to a whole new realm of knowledge, it also opens the doors to a whole new set of dangers.
"You have to consider that a computer has the potential to break down every physical barrier between a predator and your child," Hood said. "Who is going to protect them if you don't?"
Some simple Internet tips can keep your child safe online:
- Keep your computer in a family room or den, not in your child's bedroom.
- Have your child participate in a rule setting for Internet usage.
- Know your child's password or keep it to yourself and log them on whenever they need to use the computer.
- Remember that your child has Internet access away from home and remind him/her that the rules apply at every computer, at home or elsewhere.
- Investigate the variety of parental controls, filtering, or blocking software and spyware protectors available.
- Teach your child to never give out personal information to people they meet online.
- Talk to your children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.
Information provided by Jan Schaefer, public information officer, Office of the Attorney General, State of Mississippi, 601-359-2002, and memoriesalways.
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