Internet Safety

This week, it's all about internet safety. Here are some links that I thought would be useful.

1.dmoz Open Directory Project
http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Computers/Internet/Safety/

This site has a huge list of links that offer parents, teens and children resources, games, comics, videos etc. The topics range from chatting to cyberbullying to privacy. One could spends days seeing everything on this site.

2. Safekids.com
http://www.safekids.com/
http://www.safekids.com/parentpledge.pdf
http://www.safekids.com/safekidscontract.pdf

This site has the above parent and child contracts that I thought would be a good starting point for parents when talking to their children about internet safety. There is also an online safety quiz, a safety song, and a few safety articles.

3. CIESE- The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education
http://www.k12science.org/internetsafety.html

This site realizes the need to balance student protection with the need for students to utilize technology to its fullest potential. The site advocates for the need for an Acceptable Use Policy, appropriate classroom websites, and contains a list of useful links, such as parent, children's, and librarian's internet guides, acceptable use policies and a k-8 curriculum guide with lesson plans.

4.AT&T Internet Safety Connections Game
http://www.att.com/Common/images/safety/game.html

A simple but informative game that asks kids to decide what to do in certain situations, such as what to do when you receive a request for personal information, when you are asked to meet someone in person or you receive a scary message.

5. The FBI's Parent's Guide to Internet Safety
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm

A comprehensive guide that gives an overview of internet safety, gives a list of signs that your child might be at risk online, answers the question of what to do if you suspect your child is communicating with an online predator, and tells you how to minimize the chances of your child being exploited by someone online.

6. Common Sense Media- The Internet Survival Guide for Parents
http://www.commonsense.com/internet-safety-tips/tips-for-kids.php

I like the straightforwardness of this site- it is clear and easy to read. I also like the page that gives recommended internet usage by age and stage. There is also a page with links to more resources.

7. Internet Safety Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZHq4CQekTY

I found this video to be very scary- I don't know that I would let really young children watch it, but it gives parents an idea of how quickly and easily a child can be fooled by someone online.

8. LoveToKnow Internet Safety Facts
http://safety.lovetoknow.com/Category:Internet_Safety_Facts

A comprehensive list of sites for a variety of internet safety facts and information, including a list of social networking games appropriate for children, information about cyber bullying, and lesson plans.