Steps to Implement an Online Safety Program in Your Family

1. Install an Internet filter (see our Internet filtering recommendations in this manual under “Software Tools for the Home”). If the software allows for different settings for each user, we recommend blocking all chat rooms for children under 16. We also strongly recommend blocking file sharing programs like Kazaa, Limewire, and BearShare completely.
2. Place computer in the family room or another open area of your home such that the screen is easily visible when passing by.
3. Publish the Family Safety Pledge (found in this manual); post it by all computers. Review it with each child and have them sign it.
4. Know what your children are doing online by:
   
   a) Reviewing Internet browsing history. For most Web browsers, you can assess this by holding down Ctrl and pressing “H” at the same time or clicking on the History button on the browser toolbar. Also, most Internet filters have a feature that lets you know what sites have been visited, and cannot be erased by tech savvy children like History in Web browsers.
   
   b) Checking the “recent documents” for files transferred or accessed on disks.
   
   c) Surfing together especially with younger children to learn how they use the web. Get to know the sites they enjoy and how they interact online.

d) Changing your child's homepage. For instructions, go to the “[[Changing Your Child’s Homepage]]” section of this manual.

1. Educate yourself around issues of online safety. Read TechMission’s Internet Safety Manual, view our Internet Safety Course for Parents (coming soon) and keep up-to-date on news and other resources on the TechMission Safe Families website at www.safefamilies.org.
2. Lead by example. Your children are watching you.
   Many kids' first pornography exposure is their parents' material. Just as second hand cigarette smoke is harmful to those exposed, your media choices can effect your children. We recommend that adults consider signing a Media Sobriety Covenant for Adults (shown elsewhere in this manual). It is your responsibility to keep them from being exposed to pornographic or sexually provocative material. This includes:

· Television and radio

· Internet use

· Magazines and books

· Videos

· Cell phone graphics