It is common knowledge that the web is filled with potential dangers for our children. However, kids need to develop their computer skills in order to stay competitive in school, and one day, the job market. With that in mind, we present the following positive, educational or just plain fun activities that kids can engage in online.

Positive Online Activities for Kids

1. Learn about their world. The web is home to some of the most comprehensive almanacs and encyclopedias in the world. The following websites are great resources for legitimate information online: www.encyclopedia.com, www.wikipedia.org, and www.britannica.com. With just the click of a mouse, a child can not only learn about different cultures and bygone eras, they can see that information come to life with full color photos, videos and other multimedia.
2. Keep in touch with family. Young kids and grandparents. A match made in heaven. But what if grandma and grandpa are thousands of miles away and are only able to make limited trips to see the family? Kids can use email to communicate with ALL their relatives around the world – and can even create a family website featuring photos and other cool information.
3. Play educational games. Not all web-based games are mindless first-person shooters. Some actually have educational value. Do some Google searches to find the ones best suited for your kids - be they historical trivia quizzes or logic puzzles.
4. Do research on their homework materials. Online, kids can gather all kinds of reference materials for papers, science projects, oral essays and other school assignments. (Note to parents: Be sure and check the credibility of the source materials your children use. Also, be sure to explain to them how “cutting and pasting” information on the web is plagiarism).
5. Start a blog. Setting up a wordpress blog through Word Press is fun and easy. Why not sit down with your child and help them develop a blog about their favorite hobbies or interests? The child will be learning one of the most valuable web development skills out there today and engaging in a productive activity to boot.
6. Get involved with a cause. There are literally thousands of websites devoted to informing people about important causes and charities around the globe. Many of these sites feature “KIDS SECTIONS” where young people can learn more about the topic and get involved. These kinds of activities illustrate one of the great, unheralded benefits of the Internet: that it makes our world smaller and connects us with one another in powerful ways.

The best thing to remember about kids and the Internet is to keep everything closely monitored and always in moderation. Set aside specific hours when you child can use the computer and always monitor that time as closely as you can. Ask other parents about the activities they engage in with their kids and get ideas from that community.

Few things upset a parent more than hearing that their child has been the victim bullying. And while schoolyard bullying is a historic problem (and continues to be so) modern technology has increased the bullying problem by creating a new breed of the problem - the cyber bully.

Cyber bullying and physical bullying may differ in many ways, but the pain that they both cause is remarkably similar. The children who are able to overcome bullying are not necessarily the strongest kids on the block, but rather the ones with the parents who are best educated on the subject.

The following are vital, expert tips on how to help your child avoid getting bullied – and enrich their self-esteem in the process. These tips are not meant to solve the bullying problem, but instead give your child some education on how to handle these difficult situations.

Tips for protecting your kids from schoolyard bullies

Tip #1: Teach your child to use their words instead of their fists

Back in the old days, parents (especially fathers) used to tell their kids to fight back when threatened by a bully. We now know that strategy is not the most productive course of action. By using their words in the face of the predator, the child is refusing to reinforce the bullying behavior and therefore opening up a crack in the bully’s armor. This action will gain support from their peers, which will in turn weaken the bully’s resolve. For example, teach your child to say “I’m not afraid of you” when confronted by a bully. This will build their self-confidence as it erodes the confidence of the bully.

Tip #2: Role play with your kids

One of the most effective ways to teach your kids how to handle a bully is to role play a variety of different situations with them at home. Show them how to respond when someone is picking on them. Give them “lines” to read that will protect them and build their self-esteem at the same time. For example, when a bully says “I’m going to punch you if you don’t give me your lunch money” have your child rehearse responses such as “that’s not going to do you any good, it will just get you in big trouble eventually.” Educate them on whom to contact if they are bullied, for instance the school principal, teacher, or any other school staff. This will empower them and boost their self esteem when dealing with these issues.

Tips for protecting your kids from cyber bullying

Tip #1: Explain to them about the dangers of the Internet

Kids can be very trusting, especially when they are online. Sit down and explain to them the potential dangers of the Internet. Explain how, some people are not who they claim to be online, and just like in the real world, they should never agree to meet with a stranger or offer any information about themselves when online. Educating your child is crucial in preventing your child from cyber bullies, online predators, or any other person looking to harm your child.

Tip #2: Monitor their Internet time

Many parents have created “Internet Family Time” as a way to monitor their child’s Internet use while still giving them the freedom to use the computer for school work and communicating with their friends. Place the computer in a central location, for example the living room; this will allow you to regulate any websites they are browsing. Make this time fun, educative, and get the whole family involved. There is no reason that the parents can’t get involved in a good game of Chess or a crossword puzzle online. Refer to your helpful tips on how to monitor your child’s internet use for more information.

Tip #3: Block access to suspect web sites

One of the best ways to avoid cyber bullying is to help your child avoid the situation in the first place. By using some of the best-selling software programs available on the market, parents can block access to the most potentially dangerous sites on the web. You can easily “blacklist” all websites and instant messenger (IM) clients so that your child has no access. We recommend blocking popular social networking sites like Myspace.com and Friendster.com because they are most popular locations for cyber bullies. You should disallow access to any online chat rooms, forums, and other online social communities. In addition, you can give your child limited user rights when using the computer, this means disabling unnecessary applications, for example Yahoo Messenger, AIM, or Gtalk. This limited access also prevents installation of any new applications without your consent.

In the decade since it became an integral part of our lives, the Internet has transformed the way we communicate, do business, shop and obtain information.  But perhaps no group has been as profoundly impacted by the web as our children.   Children as young as five years old are able to navigate the online world with ease – and the older they get the more they use it to communicate with their friends and get help with their school work.

But our children are also at great risk when they are online.  Danger lurks around every corner in the form of cyber-bullies, predators and massive amounts of inappropriate information – both hidden (in chat rooms) and overt (in pornography and other adult sites).

As parents, we walk a fine line – we must allow our kids to use the computer in order to stay current and build skills for their future, but we must also play the role of watch-dog in order to make sure that they do not fall prey to those who would exploit them online.

To help guide the way, here are some simple tips for monitoring your child’s Internet time.

Explain the rules right up front

No matter how you choose to monitor your child’s Internet use, it is important to let them know right from the start that you will be an active part of the computer time.  But don’t stop there – explain that you are doing it for their own safety, telling them about the potential dangers that can be found on the Internet.

Make computer time family time

The best way to help your children stay safe while they are online is to supervise their activity.  And the most effective, productive way to do that is to hold daily “Internet Family Time” in which every child is given a chance to work or play online, but with adults present. Be sure to make this time fun, and something the kids look forward to every day.

Monitor bookmarks and history records

Another effective method for monitoring a child’s Internet use is simply reviewing their bookmarks or site history at the end of their online sessions.  This will provide a clearer picture of the kinds of sites your children are visiting, and will give you a chance to talk to them about inappropriate websites and potential online dangers that can be found in the sites they are browsing.   Many kids may be unaware of the types of people who inhabit these sites, and will benefit greatly from a little extra information.

Block unwanted sites

Recent software innovations have made it possible for parents to install site blockers into their browsers which prevent children from viewing certain sites.   While these programs are effective, they are not perfect (and may be no match for a motivated, tech-savvy kid) and should always be accompanied by parental education or involvement (such as those listed above).

Has your child been the victim of a cyberbully?  Are you concerned about threat of cyberbullying in your child’s peer group?  CyberBully Alert helps families fight back against online predators and cyberbullies.    Visit www.cyberbullyalert.com today for more information.