A PARENT'S GUIDE TO INTERNET SAFETY
The following information was handed out to the parents that attended the Internet Safety Discussion given by Emerson School. Detective Carmelita Terry from the Berwyn Police Department answered questions and provided parents with some very useful information.
WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE AT RISK ON-LINE?
* Your child spends large amounts of time on-line, ESPECIALLY at night.
* You find pornography on your child's computer.
* Your child recieves phone calls from men you don't know or is making calls, sometimes long distance, to numbers you don't recognize.
* Your child recieves mail, gifts, or packages from anyone you don't know.
* Your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen on the monitor when you come into the room.
* Your child becomes withdrawn from the family.
* Your child is using an on-line account belonging to someone else.
What should you do if you suspect your child is communicating with a sexual predator on-line?
* Consider talking openly with your child about your suspicions.
* Review what is on your child's computer
* Check your phone records (both your house and your child's cell phone) and look for any phone numbers you don't recognize or numbers they may be calling late at night.
* Monitor your child's access to ALL types of live electronic communications. Computer sex offenders almost always meet potential victims via chat rooms. After meeting a child in a chat room they will continue to communicate with them vis e-mail.
What can you do to minimize the chances of an on-line exploiter victimizing your child?
* Communicate with your child about potential on-line dangers
* Spend time with your child on-line.
* Keep the computer in a common room. Never put a computer in a childs room or any room where they can close the door.
* Utilize parental controls provided by your service provider and/or blocking software.
* Always maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail. Be upfront with your child about your access and reasons why.
* Instruct your child to:
Never meet someone face to face that they have been talking to online
Never upload or post pictures of themselves on-line for everyone to see
Never give out their name, address, phone number, or school they attend
To never believe what they are told on-line
This information was provided by the
Federal Bureau of Investigations
For further information contact your local FBI office of visit them on-line at www.chicago.fbi.gov
WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE AT RISK ON-LINE?
* Your child spends large amounts of time on-line, ESPECIALLY at night.
* You find pornography on your child's computer.
* Your child recieves phone calls from men you don't know or is making calls, sometimes long distance, to numbers you don't recognize.
* Your child recieves mail, gifts, or packages from anyone you don't know.
* Your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen on the monitor when you come into the room.
* Your child becomes withdrawn from the family.
* Your child is using an on-line account belonging to someone else.
What should you do if you suspect your child is communicating with a sexual predator on-line?
* Consider talking openly with your child about your suspicions.
* Review what is on your child's computer
* Check your phone records (both your house and your child's cell phone) and look for any phone numbers you don't recognize or numbers they may be calling late at night.
* Monitor your child's access to ALL types of live electronic communications. Computer sex offenders almost always meet potential victims via chat rooms. After meeting a child in a chat room they will continue to communicate with them vis e-mail.
What can you do to minimize the chances of an on-line exploiter victimizing your child?
* Communicate with your child about potential on-line dangers
* Spend time with your child on-line.
* Keep the computer in a common room. Never put a computer in a childs room or any room where they can close the door.
* Utilize parental controls provided by your service provider and/or blocking software.
* Always maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail. Be upfront with your child about your access and reasons why.
* Instruct your child to:
Never meet someone face to face that they have been talking to online
Never upload or post pictures of themselves on-line for everyone to see
Never give out their name, address, phone number, or school they attend
To never believe what they are told on-line
This information was provided by the
Federal Bureau of Investigations
For further information contact your local FBI office of visit them on-line at www.chicago.fbi.gov