Print Article for : Kids Safe On The Internet

Your Online Guide » Guide to Technology » About My Space

[K59]Kids Safe On The Internet

by David Riewe, Dav

There are a lot of teens who are using MySpace. Individuals over the age of 14 are eligible to use MySpace so as a result there are many teenagers who are members of the online MySpace community. These young members may appreciate the opportunity to express their creativity, express their feelings, meet new friends or stay in touch with their old friends but they should also be aware that there is the potential for danger on any Internet community. Making kids aware of this is helpful but there is also a certain degree of parental involvement which is necessary to keep kids safe when they are online.

Enforcing Household Internet Rules

Kids who use MySpace, or the Internet in general, should be restricted to a few household rules regarding Internet usage. Putting these rules in place can be very helpful in reducing the potential for danger. Some of the general Internet rules parents might consider are:

* Do not post full name and address online or even school location. This will help to prevent stalking which could become a problem if online predators know where your child lives or go to school.

* Restrict Internet usage to specific hours during the day. This can prevent overuse of the Internet.

* Do not agree to meet online friends in person without consent. Ideally the parents should also accompany their children on these meetings and should ensure the meetings take place in a well lit, public location such as a coffee shop as opposed to a secluded spot such as an individual's home.

* Do not respond to threats or harassment. Kids should be taught to ignore this type of behavior and report these instances to parents or the Internet service provider instead of responding to the threats. Responding to threats or harassing messages can exacerbate a potentially harmful situation.

* Internet usage should be restricted to high traffic locations in the house. For example kids should only be allowed to use the Internet in computers which are in locations such as the family room or kitchen as opposed to allowing kids Internet access in their bedrooms.

Monitoring Online Interactions

Parents whose children have a MySpace account should monitor their child's online interactions on a regular basis to ensure these interactions are not potentially harmful. Parents should be particularly concerned when children are interacting with older individuals who engage in activities which are not appropriate for the child's age or when the children are interacting with those who might be a negative influence on the child.

Parents should also be aware that those their child is interacting with may not be honest about their identity. For example a parent may think it is harmless for their 15 year old daughter to engage in flirtatious banter with a 16 year old boy but there is the possibility that her online friend is really a much older individual. Parents should monitor these activities for suspicious behavior or suggestions of meeting in person.

Reviewing the Terms of Service

Finally, parents who want to keep their kid safe on MySpace should familiarize themselves with the online community as well as the terms of service and privacy policy. This will give the parents a better idea of the type of activities their children are engaging in and being exposed to as well as the safety precautions which are in place to help you protect your child.

Not wearing bicycle helmets, improper use of electrical appliances by adults, young children playing with fire and unintentional poisonings are just a few of the hazards waiting to hurt children in the place where they should be the safest -- their homes.

The causes and consequences of injuries vary considerably by age and developmental level, reflecting differences in the child's ability to learn and understand about what is around them. Their ability to move around their environment also changes what should be considered "safe."

Parents are often advised to do many things to keep their kids safe and prevent unnecessary injuries. I think that although many parents understand the need to be mindful of their children's safety, they still often wonder if they really need to do everything that is recommended.

Do you really need locks on your cabinets, covers on electrical outlets, or a gate around your pool?

Can your kids be too safe?

Personally I think that you can never be too safe. That doesn't mean that your children have to wear pads and a helmet at all times, but the more chances you take, the more likely your children will get hurt at some time.

It is important to remember that accidents (unintentional injuries) are the leading cause of death for children over age 1 years (and the 7th leading cause of death for children under a year old).

Even though unintentional injuries is a better term than accidents, it is even better to call these preventable injuries, since very often (but unfortunately not always) they can be prevented with the proper safety measures.

Here are the leading causes of death for children age 1 to 19 years in 1999:
1. Unintentional Injury (11,677 deaths)
2. Homicide (2,901 deaths)
3. Malignant Neoplasms (2,175 deaths)
4. Suicide (1,859 deaths)
5. Congenital Anomalies (1,199 deaths)
6. Heart Disease (923 deaths)

Keeping your house safe and child-friendly means having a number of safety items on hand. And what about a big hazard, appliances?

Preventing falls is not always easy. Toddlers and young children often move quickly. Their excitement about their mobility and their lack of experience can make them unaware of dangers, such as stairs or hills. Children between 4 and 5 years of age anticipate many dangers but may not have the physical skills to successfully avoid accidents. You can help prevent young children from falling by putting up stairway barriers, monitoring their play area, and providing stable play equipment.

Choking
Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years can easily choke on everyday food and objects. Your child still needs your supervision, even though he or she may be able to eat independently.

You can help prevent choking by taking basic precautions in how you prepare foods and by teaching your child safe eating habits.

Strangulation A variety of household items can strangle a young child. Make sure loose cords, objects, and furniture do not pose strangling risks. The following suggestions can help you reduce potential hazards.

-Keep cords for blinds and drapes out of reach. Attach cords to mounts that hold them taut and wrap them around wall brackets.

-Cords with loops should be cut and equipped with safety tassels.

-Do not use accordion-style gates. Babies or young children can get their heads trapped in the gate and may strangle.

-Make sure furniture does not have cutout portions or other areas that can trap your child's head.

In addition to these precautions, learn first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Knowing these skills can make the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

Article Source : Pg. 6

About Author

Both David Riewe & Joyce Jackson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

David Riewe has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lead Generation, Marketing and Hair Removal. David Riewe is the webmaster of . Read more articles about MySpace by visiting. David Riewe's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Joyce Jackson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Banking, Children and SEO Search Engine Optimization. Joyce Jackson is an expert in the field of child safety and stranger danger protection with 30 years experience in Keeping Kids Safe. For his latest book and information see. Joyce Jackson's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.