ALOHA Mind Math Learning Centers offers parents internet safety tips to protect their children online, especially during the holiday break. School breaks mean more family gatherings, but that means the kids have more down time. Here are some valuable tips for parents to keep their child safe on the internet. http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide/parent-guide

Parents should advise children when and where they can go online. They should be allowed to go to certain sites to do a specific task, such as play a game, turn in homework, or watch a movie.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, parents also need to teach children not to share their passwords. Online they should not tell their full name, home address, town, telephone, or even mention their school online, on social media, or elsewhere with anyone.

Some unscrupulous people have separate personas online and they are not who they say or appear to be. For that reason the FBI suggests children do not share or accept anything from someone they met online. This includes photos, documents, gifts, money, anything, even a donation of their time.

Parents need to instruct their children to not meet anyone met online without parental permission.

Most internet safety software has parental controls. Block general and specific sites that are not appropriate for children. If password protected do not use known or obvious passwords the child may know.

Monitor children’s use of all electronic communications. This includes chat rooms, instant messaging, social media profiles, messaging and groups, texts, chats, email, and other means.

Parents need to limit the amount of time their child spends online. Research shows this is not only healthier to their overall wellbeing, but the authorities caution parents to limit their use, especially in the evenings and weekends when offenders tend to troll to meet and lure children.

Additional safety advice from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to keep children safe online:

• Parents need to communicate and talk with their children about potential online dangers.
• Spend time with children online. Ask about their favorite internet destinations.
• Do not keep the computer, tablet, or smartphone in the child’s room. Keep the computers and other electronic devices in a common room in the house. This makes it difficult for an offender to communicate with a child when the screen is visible to all.
• Monitor chat rooms closely. While parents should utilize these mechanisms, they should not totally rely on them.
• Always maintain access to the child’s online accounts and randomly check their email. Also watch mail. Be up front with the child about parental access and why.
• Teach online responsibility.
• Talk to the local school and public library staff about their computer safeguards. Speak to parents of their friends too.

Safety Instructions for Parents to Teach Their Children:

• Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met on line.
• Never upload or post photos of themselves online or service to people they do not personally know.
• Never give out identifying information, such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number.
• Never download pictures from an unknown source.
• Never respond to messages or other posts which are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing.

Keep children safe. Be on guard.

Parents need to talk to their children about the dangers online and off. Whatever they are told online, it may or may not be true. If they see or hear something that makes them uncomfortable they should immediately inform their parents, who then need to contact the authorities.

Parents need to be proactive, teach, and monitor their child’s communications, online actions, and interactions. Being an informed and direct parent can hopefully prevent future dangerous situations. For additional details visithttp://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide/parent-guide.