HOMEWORK
For schoolchildren faced with mountains of homework, the internet is a boon. Internet search engines (see below) are capable of providing, in seconds, hundreds of answers for any question or topic, producing a depth and variety of results that could once only be achieved by spending hours in a dusty library.
At school, children are encouraged to incorporate the internet into their day-to-day learning, and this is something that parents should strive to continue at home. If you are worried about your child’s searches returning inappropriate content, consider modifying the settings of your browser (see below). To remove the temptation to cheat, remind children that teachers have internet access, too. If children copy an article from the net, they will be found out.
SAFER SURFING
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Before letting children loose on a home computer, it’s a good idea to set up separate identities for them. This feature is included in most current operating systems. Parents should give themselves administrator privileges, and consider appropriate restrictions for younger users from the options provided. Once online, the most popular search engines, such as Google, Yahoo! or MSN, all offer the option to filter out content. On www.google.co.uk, click on the link marked “Preferences” and then scroll down and turn on safe filtering in the check box. There is a similar process on www.yahoo.co.uk: your first click should be on the link marked “Advanced”. MSN, meanwhile, has pages of easy to follow advice for parents and children, at www.msn.co.uk/customercare/protect/kids.
Pre-teens may be happier using a search engine designed specifically for children, such as Yahooligans, the young Yahoo!, at www.yahooligans.com, or Kidsclick, a search engine for children devised and maintained by librarians, at www.kidsclick.org. Once parents have found a search engine they are happy with, they should change their browser preferences to make it their children’s home page.
More tips on computer safety and security for parents and children are available at www.internetsafetyzone.com.
SAFER SITES
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www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/crime-disorder/child-protection-taskforce (type in tinyurl.co.uk/zlhk for short). The Home Office’s own guidelines and advice for safe internet searching for children.
www.bbc.co.uk/children Programme information, fun and educational games.
www.bbc.co.uk/learning Help with schoolwork, presented in a lively fashion.
http://www.need2know.co.uk/learning/homework (or http://tinyurl.co.uk/n2ss for short). Help and advice on homework.
www.ajkids.com The junior version of Ask Jeeves. Ask a question, get an answer.
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THINGS TO REMEMBER
Most of the material on the internet is legal, decent and honest. Some of it is useful. But children may still stumble across unsuitable content.
To prevent this from happening, consider installing software that blocks or filters the material that comes on to your computer. Some of this is free, some is included in a broader package of services and some, such as McAfee Internet Security Suite and Norton Internet Security, is commercially available for around £30-£40. Go to www.getnetwise.org to find an extensive list of protection software.
The more you as a parent know about computers and the internet, the better equipped you will be to monitor your children’s usage. Many local libraries offer free basic computer skills courses for adults.
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For more information on filtering and monitoring material to your computer, and all aspects of PC and internet safety, visit www.internetsafetyzone.com