Children and the Internet
Children and young people are likely to be texting each other during the day and after school to organise their social lives. Sometimes the online world, just like the real world, can introduce problems, such as bullying or arguments. Going online is great fun, but there are also a few people who use the internet for offensive or illegal purposes.

To keep children safe your supervision must cover the family computer. Just as you decide which TV programmes are suitable, you need to do the same for the websites and chatrooms your children visit.

Remind children that online friends are still strangers. The number of known cases where paedophiles have approached children online is extremely low, but reminding your family of the risks will keep them alert.

The Internet in school
Learning about the Internet is part of the National Curriculum in the UK. All schools have a policy on the teaching of ICT (information and communications technology) in class and teachers try to integrate ICT into the teaching of other subjects. When teaching geography, a teacher may ask children to look up information on the Internet through a search engine to encourage the use of digital technology as part of the learning process.

The Internet at home
You are very likely to supervise your child’s television viewing habits and wouldn’t let them watch unsuitable programmes. The same thing applies to the Internet.

Why not create a list of good websites for children and encourage your child to try those? Click here for some examples of sites which appeal to children. Make sure all the websites your child visits are moderated.

Help children get the best out of being online
Here's some quick tips:

1. Keep the computer in a family or shared room.

2. Talk to your children about Internet safety. Let them know that it's OK to tell you if they have a problem.

3. Ask your children to teach you how to chat, use message boards and instant messenger programmes.

4. Help your children set up their email accounts and 'spam' filters.

5. Limit the amount of unsupervised time your children spend online.

6. Encourage your children to be open about their Internet friends and the time they spend online.

Internet Safety Presentations
A Guide to Safe Surfing on the Net (External site)
For comprehensive advice on how to enjoy the huge benefits of the internet without having to contend with fraud, spam, viruses, pornography, pop-ups and other potential hazards, this safety presentation [External Site] is all you need.

PowerPoint Presentation (Download)
Childnet has produced a 54 slide PowerPoint presentation looking at the issues of Internet safety for parents. This presentation has been shown all over the world and many parents have told Childnet that they have welcomed an opportunity to come together to look at the issues and ask questions without their children present.