June is “Internet Safety Month”. Technology, specifically the internet, has opened up the world to us and brought it into our homes. Through the internet, we have easy access to a vast amount of material. This presents a new set of challenges for parents that did not exist just a few years ago. As a parent it is necessary to stay

World informed and be aware of the dangers children may encounter on the internet. Pornography, on-line gambling, access by child predators to your child’s information and exposure to “Cyberbullying” are just some of the dangers your child faces from the internet.

Consider the following:

o One in seven children have received sexual solicitation on the internet.

o 34 percent are unintentionally exposed to sexual material and only 27 percent told a parent.

o 79 percent of sexual solicitation happens on their home computer.

o 23 percent of the children have met a stranger on the internet and seven percent report meeting

that stranger in person.

As parents you should World know how the computer is being used, set clear rules concerning its use, keep it located in a public area of your home and talk to your children about online dangers. You should set clear boundaries that are age appropriate, such as how long they can be on the computer, what sites they are allowed to visit, what software programs they can use and what activities they’re allowed to do.

Teach your children to:

o Never share personal information

o Never tell anyone they are home alone

o Never send pictures of themselves

o Never respond to communications that are obscene, harassing or belligerent

o Always tell an adult if anything frightens them or makes them uncomfortable

o Always remember “a little data can reveal a lot about them”

o User names should never contain their personal information such as “Jane 1980”.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of an internet crime please contact HANDS OF HOPE RESOURCE CENTER at 320-732-2319 or 1-800-682- 4547.

Annette Schilling Hands of Hope Resource Center Long Prairie, Minn.