1. Keep Your Child Safe Online
It's hard to remember a time without emails or blogs. The Internet opens up a world of culture and education, but unfortunately it can also expose children to people and materials that are not appropriate for them. Websites with adult content or sites run by child predators are as accessible as educational sites, so it's important to know about child-proofing a computer to keep your child safe.
2. Keep It Password Protected
One of the most effective ways to childproof your computer is by using passwords. Most computers now come with a password capability as a standard feature in their operating software and once the password is enabled the computer can't be operated or logged on to the Internet without the correct code. Enable your computer password any time you will not be home to supervise computer use. Make sure the password is one that the kids won't easily figure out. Change it periodically.
3. Supervise Computer Usage
Monitoring computer usage is an important way to childproof your computer by keeping yourself aware of your child's online activities. Allow kids a limited amount of time online per day and check in frequently to see what sites they're visiting if you can't stay with them the whole time. Make sure your kids know what sites are acceptable and what sites they're forbidden to visit.
4. Program Security Right In
Security programs are another great way to childproof your computer. Security programs are available at most computer and electronics stores and allow you to restrict access to specific websites or sites containing objectionable material. Some programs allow you to create a database of specific sites that you want to block, while others let you compile a list of names and words that are forbidden. The program denies access when a user attempts to log on to a site containing any of the listed words anywhere in its content.
5. Learn About Blogs
Blogs are online journals and they've become hugely popular. Certain blog sites have been made popular by bands and authors that use the sites as networking tools to connect with their fans, but blogs can also be used to connect to a network of friends and acquaintances all over the world. Blogs can be especially dangerous for children, however, because many blog sites do not do security checks on their members and allow access to other member's profiles. If your children have online blogs, find out who their listed friends are and what security measures the site takes to keep child predators and dangerous individuals from contacting underage members. Monitor your child's blog activity regularly.
