How To Effectively Monitor Your Kid's Online Surfing
Checking On hat Your Children Do Online
There are many ways to check up on your kid's computer usage. Read below for a simple option that is free of charge and creates immediate results.
The Problem
Today's parents must be vigilant about knowing what their teenagers are doing online. There are many ways to prevent their teenagers from viewing inappropriate websites when they are online. Each option has its strengths and its weaknesses, but one way stands out above all the others when it comes to maximum effectiveness.
For parents who throw up their hands and say it is impossible to keep track of what their teenagers are doing on the computer, here is a comparison that they can pay attention to Would they have the same response argument if the discussion was about playing with matches on the living room rug? Why then is the discussion of computer usage any different?
Age Verfication
Age warnings or age verification checks on sites reasonably cover the operator of a website from a legal standpoint for blocking from visiting those who are not old enough to view the content. Of course, from a children's point of view, those measures only make the website more interesting and they no doubt check off the age box in whatever way will get them into the site.
Blocking Access
Well-known search engines and a number of ISP's have "parental locks" similar to the V-Chip on television sets. The purpose of these is to block access to sites that have objectionable material. One can set up search engine start to only show results of an acceptable type. There are usually levels of "safety" that parents can determine.
Parents also spend lots of money on filtering programs such as Norton Internet Security, NetNanny, CyberSitter, and other similar products. While filtering is probably reasonably effective, computer filtering programs has its quirks too. An often-cited example is that the filters block access to medical or medical related information such as thoat belonging to various breast cancer foundations because those sites refer to anatomy.
Going Higher Hi-Tech
Stepping it up a notch technology wise, there are computer programs known as keyloggers. Keyloggers save to memory what has been input on a keyboard and can display that information. Essentially, they are allowing parents} to spy on what has been typed on a keyboard after the fact. There are also programs that can record everything that takes place on a particularcomputer including, chat room discussions, e-mail messages, e-mails, email conversations sent and received, pictures downloaded, and IP addresses visited. Some programs even allow you to set up a system to alert when a violation occurs such as a teenager visiting a websites that a parent or guardian has instructed him or her not to visit.
Any or all of the above suggestions may contribute to a parent's overall plan to protect his or her teenagers from the threats of the modern online world, but there is still one more suggestion that every parent should implement right away.
The Final Solution
The most efficient solution is absolutely the most obvious one, which means that is easily overlooked. It can be stated in one sentence; it promotes family togetherness and it's free. Ready? Put the PC directly in the middle of the main room of the house!
Do you need a little while to get over the shock of this idea? I warned you that the brilliance would be in the simplicity. I'm sure you can imagine the look of horror on your son's face and the screams of protest from your daughter that you are ruining her life and totally invading her privacy with this act of parental treason. You will have to put an end to the arguments that your kid's friend's parents let them have their net access in their own rooms.
Appropriate parenting techniques should never be based on the neighbors and their behavior unless they happen to be exemplary role models as parents. If that describes your situation, I can practically guarantee that your their teenagers won't beg you to copy their parenting skills.
Parents, stay strong and don't be afraid to get that computer front and center in the main room of the house immediately and you will never again have to wonder what your kids post on their AOL profiles and with whom they are chatting in chatrooms.
About the Author
Get more free parenting info by visiting Matthew W. Grant's a href="http://www.SomeoneElsesKids.com">parenting information</a> blog at (http://www.SomeoneElsesKids.com).
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