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Cyber Space, a Safe Place?
4 Steps to Preteen Safety
By Sue Marquette Poremba
However, parents should give their adolescents some privacy. Most of these blogs or Internet conversations allow kids to blow off steam about their parents. They are also the 21st-century equivalent of passing notes or simply a place to brag. Be honest. Tell your child that you will monitor Web history, and that you will be asking questions. Keep the communication lines open. Let your child know that safety comes first, and they shouldn't be afraid of punishment.
There are a lot of interesting places to visit online. If your preteen wants to meet new people (and one of the most wonderful aspects of the Internet is the opportunity to meet people around the world), suggest a penpal-like exchange between your child's school and another school or introduce your child to a same-age child of one of your friends. "Using the Internet is an easy way to communicate with friends," says Delp. "There are a lot of good things on there. Parents simply need to keep themselves educated."
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.