Tips for Parents

• Keep the computer in the family room or another location where you can see what your child is doing.
• Use Parental Controls to limit the sites your child can access.
• Limit the amount of time your child uses the computer.
• Talk to your child about cyber safety and cyber bullying.
• Remind your children:
  • Never give personal information such as name, birthday, address or phone number.
  • Never download pictures or documents from strangers.
  • Never use any personal information when creating a screen name or email accounts

  Tips for Students
  

  • Never give personal information about yourself to anyone on line.
  • Never agree to meet anyone in person. If someone wants to talk to you in person, talk to an adult about it.
  • Don’t respond to emails or instant messages from people you do not know, even if they seem like they know you.
  • Don’t bully people on line.
  • Never put anything on line that you do not want to see printed and brought to school.
  • Never respond to messages that are scary.
  • Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.
  • If someone writes an email or instant message to you that is threatening or harmful, don’t delete it. Print it out and show it to an adult.

   

  Cyber-Bullying

  Recent national surveys show that 45% of fourth-to-eight grade students have been bullied.  But it’s not happening on the playground—it happens in their home. Bullies harass and threaten through the home computer.  In most instances this occurs when parents are not present.  In addition to bullying situations, children open themselves up to at risk situations.  
   

  Social Networks: myspace.com, facebook, etc.

  If your child is using social networking site, please speak to your child immediately. Students attending elementary school are not old enough to manage these accounts appropriately. This can be a dangerous on-line activity due to the fact that strangers will have access to your child’s personal information.