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For each
of the following, please choose the one best response:
The Internet offers
a:
a. wealth of information
b. host of dangers
Going online is like:
a. being in a haunted house, not knowing what frightening
thing lurks just around the next corner
b. going to a theme park, with one wondrous and exciting experience
after another
When your child "surfs
the net", he or she is:
a. safe as always in the comfort of his/her own home
or school
b. in peril from thousands or even millions of strangers
If you can't answer
these questions, you are not alone. Along with the amazing array
of information available online, there are potential risks in using
the Internet which bring new challenges to raising a child. Because
our children have ready access to computers in our classrooms, libraries,
and homes, these are challenges that cannot be ignored. In our own
homes, over 50% of us have computers and the options for getting
online expand every day.
The Internet has become
an indispensable tool to many. These days, a child may be online
at school and again in the evening at home, at a friend's house,
or at the library. An evening of homework may include logging some
time on the web to do research, practice skills, or check a class
assignment. A trip on the Internet doesn't just answer questions
- it can be a miraculous adventure, opening up whole new worlds
to an exploring child.
Unfortunately, not all
of the worlds are those you want your child to see. For example,
your child's school project on insects might begin with her typing
in the word "insects" into an Internet search engine such as about.com.
With this simple keyword, she will discover no fewer than 2,475
resources on insects just a click of the mouse away. The wealth
of knowledge at her fingertips is hardly imaginable. But if your
child isn't a great speller or typist, "insects" may come out as
"incest" or "insex." In these cases, the Internet sites that are
returned from your child's search may include material that makes
your child uncomfortable, material he is not ready for and you would
rather he not be exposed to. Whether or not they spell their search
terms correctly, children exploring the Internet on their own can
run across things that they are not prepared for. And the speed
with which they can access these sites is as lightening quick!
Besides being exposed
to information that may be confusing or upsetting, the Internet
is also potentially dangerous because it is a place where children
can be approached by strangers. This can happen by e-mail, instant
messaging, and in chat rooms. Conversations online don't provide
the cues (tone of voice, appearance) that a face-to-face conversation
might offer, nor the setting and supervision to make sure they are
safe. A child may think he is confiding in another child in a chat
room when in fact the other person is an adult pretending to be
a child in order to earn his trust. Children can be asked by this
stranger to provide personal, detailed information, or even to meet
them in person. Even the child who has learned early not to "talk
to strangers" may not see the harm in "talking" to the computer.
Just as you would not leave a lighter on the coffee table for your
child to play with, or a medicine unprotected by a child safety
cap, parents should recognize the potential dangers a child faces
when allowed free access to the Internet.
So what can parents
do to keep their children safe and protected, while also letting
them explore the web's wonderful resources? There are three critical
things a parent must do: communicate, provide structure, and offer
supervision. Here's how:
- Communicating with a child about
the Internet is similar to talking about the risks of tobacco,
drugs, and other dangerous situations. Talk to your child at
a level they can understand, and talk to them repeatedly about
the potential risks. When an opportunity arises, for example,
a news report of a teen kidnapped by someone he met online,
use the opportunity to help your child see that even smart kids
can be fooled. Share with your child your own discomfort when
you get e-mails from people you don't know, offering materials
that you don't want or that make you feel uneasy.
- Providing structure includes
having an Internet setup that utilizes the built-in protections
available. Depending on your Internet service provider, these
options will usually include filters which can restrict the
sites your child can access; and limit his or her access to
send and receive e-mail and to download files. Some providers
allow you to specify the e-mail addresses of friends and family
members so that they can e-mail your child but no one else can.
Also part of providing structure is limiting the amount of time
or the times of day that your child is online, and specifying
what information you do not want her to give out over the Internet
(e.g., address, phone number, name of school).
- Supervision remains the best
way you can offer your child a safe and enjoyable Internet experience.
Many experts recommend having the computer in an open area where
family members tend to gather (e.g., a family room, kitchen)
so that the supervision is easily accomplished and a natural
part of being in the same place together. Supervision can also
be "hands-on": spending time with your child exploring the online
world and helping him to learn what's safe and what's not. Being
online with your child will also give you an opportunity to
learn about his or her interests, to offer suggestions for other
ways to explore, and to observe the internet skills he or she
has already acquired.
We might not think of
the Internet as dangerous, but it can be. Making sure that your
child has your support and assistance as he or she explores the
online world helps make this world a safer place.
**
This material
is provided for informational and educational purposes only; it
does not contain specific medical advice. If you have specific health
questions or problems, consult a health care professional for personal
medical advice. To reach Patient Services at Children's Hospital
of Richmond, call (804) 228-5818.
Children's
Hospital is a specialty pediatric facility with the mission of providing
quality health care to children and financial assistance when needed.
Children's Hospital now offers inpatient, day patient and outpatient
services to more than 8,000 children each year, providing evaluation,
diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions.
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