Child Safety on the Internet

Kids and teens are among the biggest consumers of the internet and love online chat or messenger. Although you may be tempted to do so, you cannot expect your child not to go online at all. But apart from the interesting information and the multitude of addictive games for children, the internet is full of inadequate information and dangers, and children can be exposed to the malicious intentions of some people. But parents can do a lot to make the web a safe place for children. Here is the advice from one of the best schools in south Kolkata

 

What is the first thing parents need to do to protect their children from the dangers of the Internet?

 

Instead of trying to stop him from using the internet, talk to him about what he does online. Encourage him to always tell a parent or teacher when surfing the internet. Ask him what he likes, who he meets, and what his favourite sites are.

Keep your computer in the living room - in plain sight!

Experts  of a CBSE school near Bansdroni recommend that if a computer is used by children, it should be kept in the living room, visible to parents and adults who supervise them.

It is a tactic that has a high chance of encouraging children to discuss what they are doing and to ask for help when they come across something disturbing.

There is parental control software on the internet

It is worth using parental control software that filters website addresses. However, many filters are unsophisticated and block useful sites.

Here are the 10 rules for parents recommended by one of the best schools in south Kolkata

Discuss with the children about the internet, about the benefits and dangers of the virtual world.Use the internet with children, and look for things that interest them.Keep the computer in a room where the whole family can use it.Show interest in the work of your children and their friends both online and offline.Decide with the children when and under what conditions to use the internet.Learn more about using your computer together.Teach children never to give personal data or pictures to those they correspond with on the internet.Control children's online activity so as to limit as much as possible access to content that is harmful or dangerous to them.Teach children not to set up, without your consent, meetings with people they only know from the internet.   Pay attention to your child not to tell anyone any password, except the parents.

 

Tips for children

What are the most important things you need to know as per experts from a renowned CBSE school near Bansdroni

Ask permission from your parents, teachers, or adults who care for you before you go online.If you receive a message that contains rude or unpleasant things, you MUST notify an adult and DO NOT reply to the message!You have to remember that it is not your fault if someone sends you such a message.What about their emails and attachments? Be careful about opening message attachments, except for e-mails from known and trusted people. Those emails may contain a virus that can destroy all information and software on your computer.

What not to do online

 

Never reveal your name, address and phone number or password.Never respond to malicious messages or indecent suggestions.Do not open message attachments, other than those from people you know and trust.Never meet someone you know on the net unless you are accompanied by an adult.

One way to avoid them is to set up two email addresses for your child. One of them will be a private address to give to friends.

The other can be a public address, which he can use when surfing the net or either subscribing to e-mails or registering on forums. Spam messages will be sent to this address, so emails should be filtered by a parent who can delete inappropriate messages.

There is no point in asking a spammer to delete you from his email list. This will confirm that your email address is genuine and active, so it may send you even more spam.

Children should not respond to malicious or indecent content. If I receive such a message, I should notify a parent or adult.

 

Are chatrooms dangerous for children?

 

Chat rooms are a great opportunity for children to get to know and talk to other children around the world. But a child must always be very careful in chatrooms. The best schools in south Kolkata teach children to ask a parent for permission to enter a certain chatroom.

Teachers from pre school Kolkata advise children:

Ask your parents for permission before using a chatroom.Be careful when you are in a chatroom.Be yourself, don't pretend to be someone else.Always avoid sites for people over 18 years of age.

Even if it is said that a chatroom is only for children, for now, there is no way to determine if all participants are children. There could be an adult or an older child trying to deceive younger users.

Your child should not pretend to be someone else or anything other than he or she is. If a child starts to feel unwell in a chatroom about what someone is saying, they should come out of the chatroom and tell an adult about it.

If a child receives an e-mail urging them not to tell their parents about it, they should not respond, but immediately notify an adult of the message.

If children use messenger programs, encourage them to keep "closed" friend lists to help limit the number of people who can contact them.

 

What kind of information can a child reveal?

 

Children should not tell an acquaintance online their home address, telephone number or the name of the school they attend, unless they have received the explicit permission of a parent or teacher in connection with it.

They should not send their picture, credit card or bank account details to anyone without first discussing it with a parent or teacher. And, of course, they should not reveal any passwords, not even to their best friends.

Children should not use their first name or last name or animal names as passwords, as they could be easily guessed. Instead, combinations of letters and numbers should be used.

 

But are they allowed to meet friends on the net?

 

Teachers from pre school Kolkata  advise to not allow the child to meet face to face with any person known on the net without your knowledge. Even if you know, accompany the child and set up the meeting in a public place.

People you meet online are not always who they seem, even those you talk to every day.