When to Worry about your Child's Behavior

The Internet need not be a ticket to danger. Although the potential does exist, many young people use the Internet to safely explore new learning opportunities and to access a vast information pool.

With your help, children can safely avoid many of the dangers, and have primarily good experiences with the Internet. As a precaution, it is a good idea to check in with your children regularly to be sure that they are strictly observing family Internet rules. Share your concerns with your child if you notice any of the following patterns or changes:

  1. 1. Your child spends an inordinate amount of time on the Internet or in chat rooms (this is where they are most likely to be vulnerable to predators that study children as they plan their approach)

  2. Your telephone bill includes calls to numbers that are unfamiliar to you and that your child has difficulty explaining.

  3. Your child receives mail and/or packages from people and addresses that are unfamiliar to you (predators often use gifts to make themselves more appealing and to gain a child’s trust)

  4. Your child becomes secretive with computer use (it is understandable that children will want some privacy, but parents should be concerned if the screen is switched off every time they approach the area).

  5. Your child becomes withdrawn from friends, family and/or previously enjoyed activities (predators have worked very hard at perfecting the “understanding and sympathetic” approach and some children may come to believe that “no one else really understands how they feel.”

  6. Your child is using an online account other than the one that you set up or have knowledge about.

  7. A check of your child’s history folder reveals visits to pornographic sites.

Talk with your child immediately if anything about their Internet use makes you feel uncomfortable, and remember to use a tone that conveys concern and invites conversation rather than anger and arguments.

- Internet Safety Tips -

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