I am aware of the dangers of the internet.
If this is too simplistic and/or difficult for you, maybe you shouldn't have kids. Being "aware" doesn't cut it, parenting is about "doing", not just "knowing".
It's not too simplistic. It's the most basic way and first step toward intelligent monitoring of and educating a child on the safe use of the internet.
It may be but it IS important. Here is an example. My friends little boy had some friends over and one of them said to put tits in the search and you can imagine what came up! These kids are FIVE!! The kid had learned the word from an older brother. They were on his 8 yo sister's bedroom computer.
My kids are in elementary school- 1st grade and 5th grade.
They have computer class at school AND workshops about internet safety and cyber safety and bullying.
THEN at home, we routinely teach them too.
Our computer is in a common area. They can use it. They know how.
They know what they are allowed to do or not. They listen and respect our telling them. Even my 6 year old son.
We ALSO have on the computer, a password and my Husband made it safety proofed with those internet safety things that parents can load on their computer. We EXPLAINED that to our kids. We inform them of things. Clearly. We know what they are doing on it. They can only get on the computer via their own "desktop" log in screen. Not ours. Only on theirs. My kids, do what we tell them per the computer usage. They are good about that.
YES, they know about the dangers. We TELL them, as well as their school.
Sure its too simplistic if you just keep a computer (for the kids) in a common area... WITHOUT explaining or teaching the kids, about WHY or about internet safety or without explaining RULES to the child. And/or, if a kid is just defiant or does not do what their parents say. Then, that is another problem.
No, I don't think so.
This is what I do. Currently what has become my son's laptop is on the kitchen table. I have freedom to look over his shoulder when he is on it, and I can check the history and get parental activity reports on his account.
Same with his phone - I can look at his text messages and call history - he even offers to show them to me.
It is all about communication with our children and setting clear expectations and boundaries.
Simplistic, sure. But simply doable also.
People rarely leave it at that. MOST parents don't just put the computer in a common room, and let them have at it. They check, monitor, and have discussions You are being too simplistic! Don't assume when people say "keep the computer in a common area," they only do that.
Of course, but it's a great place to start.
Combining it w/parental controls as well as regular open, honest discussion with kids about internet content is even better.
Yes. How about "monitor your children's on-line activities, including placing the computer in a common area, password protecting the computer, installing firewalls and checking email, facebook and chat logs"?
What's wrong with simple solutions?
It's only a start, sure - but an easy one. Our computer is in a common area, and our daughter is still only learning to type, so her ability to "surf" is limited, but it's easier to start out right, than it is to try and correct things later.
It limits what WE can look at during the daytime, sure, but do I really need to be hiding away on the computer when the little ones are home anyway? No.
Irini, Anna, Marina, whatever you chose for your name of the day....
What are you polling for now? I still think you need to be micro chiped and have a bar code tattooed on your forehead.
You are not fooling anyone....
"Irini, Anna, Marina, whatever you chose for your name of the day...."
Yeah, could you perhaps make like a tree and leave?
For laughs I will answer your question, well sort of. If you want your kids to be safe you teach them to think safe! You would have to be a fool if you think you can protect your children 24/7 with the location and software on your computer! I have no filters, all my kids have portables so as long as they have a signal they can go anywhere in our house or yard! They can lock themselves in their room for all I care.
What they have at risk for doing anything dangerous is they can lose my trust. For some reason for my kids that trust is the holy grail! They are unwilling to do anything to lose that trust even if that means bringing a mistake to my attention.
Can't buy that in a box, it takes years to develop.
I think that if everyone has nothing to hide then there is no good reason to not have the computer in the common area's of the home. Why should everyone go to their separate area's and stay away from each other. When I have my laptop in the living room I am more likely to stop what I am doing and interact with the kids or hubby.
It is much simpler to keep an eye on the kids and the house so it is still standing if I take a 15 minute break to check statuses.
I see no good reason to not have all the computers in the common area of the home.
Now if one does want to look at things the kids should not see then by all means, the adults should keep their computer under their own password and not do those things when the kids are awake and possible see what is on the screen.
I completely agree with all of these brilliant ladies who beat me to the answer. ;)
I., you seem to be searching for some sort of answer and I remember your post from the other day. Curious as to what you seek to find here...
In my opinion, yes, just simply advising "keep the computer in a common area" probably does not give parents enough information, but only if they are really unfamiliar with necessary internet safety. I think most people who use this site are savvy enough to know that parental controls, as well as separate passwords for different users, and good anti-virus protections are important.
What's also important is to talk with the kids about *who else* is using the internet and what is appropriate usage on their part. Keeping that screen out where we can see it is important, and I also know (per your last post) that kids will eventually request to use the computer in their room from time to time. I believe that it is important to give our kids independence in this area which is appropriate to their levels of responsibility, good judgment and maturity. They will eventually grow up and leave home. It might be good for them to know that looking at certain websites or opening some email attachments could potentially wipe out their computer via viruses, or worse.
We need to teach them about why it is unsafe to post any old thing out there, especially on Facebook. (There are a lot of kids who really can't handle the weird social dynamic that goes on online.)
I also think this advice is overly simplistic given the number of kids who have handheld smartphones with internet access. I see parents introducing these devices to kids earlier and earlier without enough control over when and how they are used. Two informative books on technology and the effects of the internet on family life and socialization are Sherry Turkle's "Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology than we do from each other" and Susan Maushart's "The Winter of our Disconnect", which describes one family's pulling the plug on tech gadgets and the positive outcomes which resulted from this. Both are worth the read.
sure, it's simple. Too simplistic? Like you want a more specific answer?
Put the computer where everyone can see it. So that there's no way to "hide" what you are doing.
I mean you're not going to keep the computer in the bathroom, where it is a very common area.
It's better than no strictures.
Dawn
i'm not sure what you mean by "to simplistic". if you mean "too simplistic", imo, there's nothing wrong with simple. one "simple" move can go SO far. in this case the "keep the computer in a common area" advice goes a LONG way towards preventing all kinds of internet dangers. i'm not sure of the point of your question, maybe you can elaborate? or are you a teenager trying to defend her right to have a computer in her room? keeping the computer in the livingroom is just what we do. i would never dream of letting my child have a computer in his room. as the other ladies have said, there is a lot more to computer safety than just the location of the actual computer...BUT...if people need their hands held as far as how to use a computer responsibly...there are resources for that too.
In the sense that even in a common area, parents should still password protect the computer, monitor usage and use parental controls, yes. It's not enough to just have it in a common area, you still have to protect children from going one websites that aren't appropriate and/or safe as well as protect any personal information that may be on the computer and protect the computer from spyware, malware, viruses etc.
My work computer is PW protected every time I step away from it, even for a few seconds. No one can get on it. My husband's is the same way. The kids share a laptop. That they can only use with permission. The older kids can work on it in their room if they're doing school work but the door is open, the room is shared and there is no privacy. If they're not doing school work on it, they can use it in the family room or living room. It is set up so that they can only log on during designated hours and I get a report telling me every application they used and website they were on. They can only go on certain types of websites and need me to "unlock" others. The little kids have the same rules and controls (websites tailored/restricted to their younger age group) but they don't know their password to log on so they can only do it if my husband or I do it for them.
What I wish I had better control of is the internet access on their phones. Our cell provider has terrible parental controls so I literally can't turn off the web on their phones or block pictures (which I could do with their older "dumb" phones). So that means we just have to comb through their phones more often, which is a pain. I also am not comfortable with web access through the Wii - granted that's in a public space too but I wish I had more controls in place for that like we do the actual computer.
No. It's not "too simplistic". It's the first layer of safety you employ when children have access to the internet. It's like saying that locking your doors when you leave the house is too simplistic. It's a basic level of safety that at least deters intruders. You do "more" if and when you need to.
My dd's computer (we bought her a reconditioned laptop) sits on the kitchen desk (built into the cabinets) where the phone is. It is common territory and I can easily see what she is looking at. I can't say I always see everything, but a few times she was watching something on youtube which I did not approve of and I put an end to it right away.
Don't let them bring it up to their room...it would be trouble.
I think it depends on the age of the child. For young chidlren under say 10 years old, I agree with all the comments below. However, chidlren also need to be taught how to be safe and responsible with technology in general. Many kids 8 and up have smartphones and/or an iTouch and/or and iPad--all with internet access. Do they ONLY use those in a common area or with parental supervision? I highly doubt it, especially teens. Let's say you have a very strict rule that your children can only use any internet capable device in the common area of your home. What about when they go to a friend's house? Not all parents have the same rules. I think it's easy for those with young children to say "Of course they can only use the computer in the common area." But when they become tweens and teens, so much becomes out of our control. Hopefully when they were younger they have been supervised AND taught safe, responsible, and respectful use of technology. My 10 and 12 year olds have iTouches and iPads. If they are in their room with them, they have to have the door open. We have technology contracts and we have taught them from an early age about cybersafety, etc. But at some point we have to allow them some space to practice the skills we have taught without us hovering AND ocassionally check up on them via parental controls, etc. That is how we will know what choices they make when we are not around, which is what our job as parents is about.
Ok how about Put it in a common area that the adults are always walking back and forth and can see the screen at any moment.
Suggestions, den, family room, kitchen bar.
That is how it was explained to us, back in the day..
There's more to it than that. Yes, you do have to teach your children that what you write or do on the internet is perminant and you do have to be careful of preditors, etc. We do keep our computers all in "common/high traffic areas." No computers are allowed in the bedroom or bathroom. (I know it sounds funny, but my son likes to read in the bathroom.) Yes, even my computer. I have to set an example for my son like all parents should. Yes no computer in the bedroom keeps everything out in the open and makes a parent feel more secure, but it also has to do with being healthy. If you've got a computer in your bedroom, whose to say you will get a good night's rest? For one thing, it's very easy to loose track of time while on the computer. For another thing, it's very tempting to turn it on when you can't sleep. One of the things that is suggested for insomnia is to take the TV out of your bedroom. We have the same concept with the computer. Why would anyone want a computer in their bedroom anyway?
I think maybe this person is using the site to be able to come up with arguments to use to gain his/her way - the responses on the site, while trying to be helpful, are a gold mine of info.....
