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My kids are much more internet savvy than me and I'm concerned for what they are doing or what they may be exposed to when they are online. I have told them what types of sites that I think are appropriate but that doesn't help when I'm not around. I'm looking for suggestions on how to better address this issue...
Have one family computer, that is shared. And have it out in the open in a communal area. Where you can always look over their shoulder or check the history.
They spend too much time in their rooms ...get them out in the open
I agree with the ideas mentioned already. I would keep it in a common area, check the history etc. You can set the security controls for certain content as well. If you have reason to believe it's a problem, I wouldn't let them use it while you're not around and would take the cords.
I agree with the ideas mentioned already. I would keep it in a common area, check the history etc. You can set the security controls for certain content as well. If you have reason to believe it's a problem, I wouldn't let them use it while you're not around and would take the cords.
What we'vw done is to let them knowthat we can track where they've been from the history, the cookies and temporary files left on the computer. Since we have more than one child and computer, I usually openly asked about it, getting "not me" answers (I usually knew who did it by the time stamps on the files). Also, if they get smart and delete the files and history, you know they did something they were not supposed to do. This was enough to keep their activities in check.
If they are computer savvy, they can and will bypass all the controls you might set on it. I could, as an adult, bypass most of it myself and am not as savvy as many kids these days.
I think it's far better to have it out in the open where you can see it at any given time. I also think that you have to understand that they will at some point see or look for something you would prefer they not. Knowing this, you should have numerous discussions, over all the years on internet usage, up front before it ever happens about your expectations and their usage.
The biggest concern to me would be them giving out personal information and talking to people they don't know online and possibly setting themselves up for dangerous activities. That's far more scarier than them seeing porn or graphic violence to me.
These are all great ideas, thank you! I am also concerned with the possibility of them speaking to people online. Ill move the computer into an open area and tell them that I'll be looking at the history and explain that if it is deleted I'll suspect something. I may look for some parental control software also... Thanks!
Good for you!! Be a great parent, not a good friend
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