Internet Safety for Parents
Do any of your family member's usernames or passwords include your birthdays, parts of your address, or your names? Are your children's Facebook photos public? Are your children tempted by those online ads to play a simple game to win a free ringtone or game console? The information below, along with the Science Buddies Internet Safety Guide, offers insightful information and tips to help your family members protect their identity and their privacy.
ikeepsafe.org
The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe®) is a broad partnership—including governors, public health and educational professionals, and law enforcement—working together for the health and safety of youth online. Their website, www.ikeepsafe.org provides free, informative resources about how you can help your children use the Internet safely. Features include videos and tutorials, as well as lessons to share with your family.
Family Online Safety Guide
Symantec corporation offers an excellent resource for parents, providing safety tips and information about various Internet issues in relation to children, tweens, and teens. This Family Online Safety Guide is an excellent resource, packed with information about the benefits and risks of the Internet in relation to you, but most importantly, to your children. Highlights include:
- A set of non-invasive questions to open up the lines of communication between you and your children about their Internet usage.
- Tips for safely browsing the Internet.
- Information about blogging, downloading, and the social networking sites your children probably visit.
- Tips for safe online shopping, bill paying, and banking.
For additional information about online safety, visit Symantec's Family Resource Website, which provides easy-to-understand insights about Internet safety issues, with materials designed for educators, parents and grandparents, and law enforcement.
Download Family Online Safety Guide (pdf)Norton Online Family
The Symantec Foundation offers a unique, Web-based service, designed to help parents become more involved in their children's online lives. Norton Online Family is designed for parent-child collaboration, and not policing. In addition to offering the best protection for children, the service helps kids and parents set "house rules" together, with filters that are customizable to fit the needs of each family. Extremely easy to use, the service allows parents to monitor activities, such as Web surfing, IM chat, social networking, Web searches, and time spent online. Helping families stay safe online is extremely important to Symantec and Science Buddies. Visit onlinefamily.norton.com today.
Symantec Internet Safety Video Tips 
The Symantec Family Resources website offers nine informative videos with invaluable Internet safety tips for parents. Marian Merritt, Symantec's Internet Safety Advocate (and a mom), sits down with a group of parents to discuss important Internet safety issues. We've included a few of these videos here. For a complete listing, visit Symantec's Family Resources website.
Using Software and Having "The Talk"
Marian highlights five easy, non-confrontational questions to ask your children in order to learn more about their Internet habits. Click the image to watch the "Using Software and Having 'The Talk'" Symantec video, found at http://www.symantec.com/norton/.
Rules for Online Safety
This video features basic, but helpful, suggestions to keep your children safe online, such as talking to your children, protecting passwords, and checking Internet history. Click the image to watch the "Rules for Online Safety" Symantec video, found at http://www.symantec.com/norton/.
Additional Online Threats to Your Kids
Learn about and how to be cautious of spam, spyware, and file-sharing programs. Click the image to watch the "Additional Online Threats to Your Kids" Symantec video, found at http://www.symantec.com/norton/.
Internet Safety Guide
Review the Science Buddies Internet Safety Guide with your children, before they perform research. This guide offers many insightful tips to help your children stay safe online, in addition to dependable Internet safety websites you can visit for more information.
Become a Science Buddies Member
Want to be in the loop about the latest Project Ideas, news about upcoming science events and deadlines, and receive valuable science fair tips? Take a few minutes and Join Science Buddies to receive a free periodic newsletter. Visit our Newsletter Archive to view past issues.
Bibliography
Fredericks, Anthony D. and Asimov, Isaac. Science Fair Handbook: The Complete Guide for Teachers and Parents. Tuscon: Good Year Books, 2001.
