During the summer months, children need to be especially aware of outdoor safety hazards as they head outside to play, travel and sometimes just relax. However, more time away from school and friends often means children, especially teenagers, will be on the computer communicating with friends or simply surfing the Web to pass the time. June has been designated as Internet Safety Month so take some time to share your concerns with your children about their computer use.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers these safety tips for parents to discuss with their teenager. Others can be found on the Web link provided.

• Tell them not to give out personal information about themselves, their family situations, school, telephone number or address.
  If you become aware of the sharing, use or viewing of child pornography online, immediately report this to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678.
  When in chatrooms they must remember that not everyone may be who they say they are. For example a person who says "she" is a 14-year-old girl from New York may really be a 42-year-old man from California.
  If someone harasses them online, says anything inappropriate or does anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  Know that there are rules many Internet Service Providers have about online behavior. If children disobey an ISP's rules, your ISP may penalize you by disabling your account, and sometimes every account in a household, either temporarily or permanently.

For more information on internet safety, please visit the Parent Resource Room at SOHS Room 121. We have several resources for your use, and can even verse you on the particular sites and activites you should be cautious of.

Information taken from ParentInfo, KDE-mail, June 1st Issue. Copyright, 2008, Kentucky Department of Education.