Tools for kids

• Set the expectation that you will monitor your child's online activities, as the Internet is a public place.
• Create and post Internet guidelines that are discussed regularly.
• Explain that pictures should not be sent or posted online without parental permission. Once sent, control of what happens to the picture is lost.
• Reinforce your child's use of child safe search engines (e.g. Yahooligans).
• Reinforce the idea that not everyone is who they say they are online. People can pretend to be older or younger than they actually are.
• Explain that s/he should trust his/her instincts and block someone if they ask questions online that seem 'weird' (questions about puberty, sex, etc.).
• Talk about friendship: what it is and isn't. Explain that online chatting needs to be adult-supervised.
• Explain to your child that it's illegal to threaten someone, and that s/he should tell a trusted adult if threatened online.
• Explain to your child that they may come across sexually inappropriate material while online. Ensure that s/he understands that s/he can talk to you about anything on the Internet without fear of losing Internet privileges.
• Ensure your child has a safe adult in her/his life that s/he can talk to.
• Suggest your child review textED.ca, an innovative and interactive website designed to teach teens to be safe, responsible and respectful users of texting technologies