Parents, Kids and the Internet
(developed in Canada by Media Awareness Network)
Today's young people are the first
generation to grow up with the Internet as a routine part of their lives. They
have taken to the technology effortlessly, and in many cases are way ahead of
adults in their online explorations.
This knowledge
gap can be intimidating for parents, who have to scramble to keep up. But that
doesn't mean that adults are irrelevant in this new wired world. In fact, our
involvement is crucial, because kids need our guidance.
To help
parents, teachers and librarians meet the challenge of educating children about
the Internet, MNet has developed a public awareness program called Web
Awareness. This program offers practical resources to help give kids the "cybersmarts"
they need to make safe and responsible online decisions.
Use the Web
Awareness resources in this section to help maximize the benefits of the
Internet for your kids, and minimize the risks they could encounter online.
What are kids doing online? What are risks
of their activities? Learn how to create family online agreements, find great
sites, conduct safe and effective searches, and teach kids to protect their
online identities and stay safe in chat rooms.
The Internet is a marketers' dream when it comes to reaching young people. Teach your kids to recognize Internet marketing techniques, and how to protect their personal information on commercial Web sites.
How do kids know what's true and what's not
on the Internet? Teach your kids the five Ws of authenticating online
information. Learning how to find good information, and how to verify its
accuracy, is the key to getting the most out of the Internet.
