Using Information & Communication Technologies Safely - Suggestions for Parents

Woodleigh School works in partnership with parents in the best interests of the young people in its care.
We recommend that parents:

1. Put access to the Internet in a public space in the home, including when using a wireless connection – not in bedrooms.
2. Get to know the services and websites your child uses. Discuss and encourage critical thinking skills. Help your children by encouraging them to question whoever / whatever they encounter and to think carefully before responding.
3. Teach your children to never to give out personal information whilst on the Internet. Discuss with them what personal information actually is. It is likely that what you think is personal, they may not. Encourage them to never share pictures of themselves or the family with anyone they meet online.
4. Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use and discuss these with your children. Monitor the amount of time your children spend online. Real life interactions need to balance online interactions.
5. Use a separate ‘log on’ for each member of the family.
6. Talk to the parents of your children’s friends about their rules for cybersafety.
7. Teach your children protective behaviours and safety procedures related to the cyber world as you would for other parts of their lives. They need to feel comfortable coming to you with concerns and questions.
8. Avoid punitive responses such as banning things to do with ICT use. This is likely to lead to resentment and secrecy.
9. Try to get to know your child’s ‘online friends’ – just as you would try to get to know his or her other friends.
10. Report suspicious or illegal activities and sites to the proper authorities.
11. Get to know the Internet Safety sites and check them regularly for safety advice. For example, www.netalert.com
12. Use appropriate filtering software, and keep your computer secure. Regularly update anti-virus, anti-spyware, spam filters and firewalls. Research shows that 90% of criminal activity is now focused on the home sector.
13. Regularly check where your children have visited on the Internet.
14. Talk to your children about their online explorations and share your own with them. Learning from your children is a great way to improve your understanding and to keep communication open.
15. Teach your child cyber ethics. For example, hacking into someone’s computer is just as wrong as breaking into a house.
16. Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs), are an invaluable tool in today’s world, bringing great benefits to both teaching and learning.

As in all parts of our lives, however, risks exist, and the cyber world is no different. As parents and teachers we have an obligation to maximise the benefits of the technologies and yet keep the young people in our care safe through educating, modelling, and negotiating.