At Cyberangels, we know you have concerns about your child's use of the Internet. We are concerned too. We've put these pages together to help you and your child reach a comfortable agreement about proper use of the wonderful vast resource now available to them.
Your child needs the Internet
The Internet is a wonderful research tool. Reliance on the Internet in schools has grown rapidly - so even if you don't have a computer in the home, chances are very good that your child is online at schools (and very likely at friend's houses as well). Online, your child has dozens of encyclopaedias at his fingertips, he can call on experts in almost any field for information, he can play, keep in touch with friends, meet new people, and explore ideas and world-views we never dreamed of when we were young.
But the Internet isn't all good
There is, however, a downside to the Internet. Dropping your children off on-line is as ill advised as dropping him off in a mall unsupervised. There are predators online who would take advantage of your child's innocence and trust. There is a great deal of easily accessed pornography. There are bullies who would harass your child. There are hate-sites, pro-drug sites, and sites that promote any activity you can think of that you would protect your child from. Just as you don't give your child carte-blanche in a video store or in a theatre, and just as you monitor what types of books or magazines he is permitted to read - so should you approach the Internet issue in your home.
To take advantage of the Internet without being taken advantage of our children need two things from us: information and supervision. Through this website, and your conversations with your child, you can educate your child as to permissible behaviour when online. We offer tips that you can go over with your child, as well as an Internet Usage agreement for him to sign. For you, we offer tips for supervising your child, classes about issues that concern us all, a list of problem-signs to watch out for, and an Internet Supervision Agreement for you to sign. By working together as a family, you can get the best of what the Internet offers without risking your child's innocence, safety, or your peace of mind.
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