Welcome, parents!

You'll notice on the drop down menu under the Parent Resources button there is a list of helpful Web sites.

The following sites have Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Information:
NetSmartz
ConnectSafely.org
GetNetWise.org

Internet Safety Tips

1. Be reasonable and try to set reasonable expectations. Pulling the plug on your child’s Internet activities is rarely a good first response to a problem—it’s too easy for them to “go underground” and establish accounts at a friend’s house or many other places.
2. Be open with your children. Encourage them to come to you if they encounter a problem online—cultivate trust and communication because no rules, laws or filtering software can replace you as their first line of defense.
3. Talk with your children. Find out how they use the services. Make sure they understand basic Internet safety guidelines, including privacy protection and passwords, the risks involved in posting personal information, avoiding in-person meetings, and not posting inappropriate photos.
4. Consider requiring that all online activity take place in a central area of the home, not in a child’s bedroom. Be aware that there are also ways children can access the Internet away from home.
5. Try to get your children to share their blogs or online profiles with you. Be aware that they can have multiple accounts on multiple services. Use search engines and the search tools on social-networking sites to search for your child’s identifying information.

Click here for a FREE printable bookmark with tips for parents on Internet safety from Illinois Library Association Website.