Too Late...Computer Safe Guards

Hi E.,

I just started letting my kids online (my daughter is in 1st grade) and as a browser I use firefox, they have this awesome extension called Glubble that adds into fire fox. It has a parental profile and lets you create profiles for your kids as well, then it lists relevant websites for the age group. What I love the most is it closes out firefox and opens the kid browser, and if kids close it, it will ask for the master password before any sites can be visited on the regular internet. You also have the ability to add in websites (like webkinz) and can keep track of the sites they visit. I probably didnt give a good description, so here is the website: http://www.glubble.com/ and best of all its 100% free.

Hope this helps, I know it has been a life saver for me

S.

My first grader isn't allowed to use the computer unless I'm sitting with her, like we do it together. I'm no where ready to let her cruise the net by herself. Besides "bad" sites there are creeps out there too.

When I am ready to let my child cruise the internet I will get some safeguard software but it's not 100% either.

I'd almost go to Best Buy and try to talk to a Geek Squad agent or at least someone in the computer department. I'm sure they get that question all the time. I know there's got to be some software that won't allow inappropriate websites to load.

Besides blocking access to bad sites with filters, NOW is the time to educate her about the internet and its dangers. Since she's already proven technically savy, you can't just assume because she's young she won't be vulnerable to all the obvious dangers out there. Don't forget, she's probably using computers at school, at friends' houses, and in the future there's libraries etc. There is a great video/dvd geared toward internet safety called "The Safeside; Internet Safety" hosted by America's most wanted John Walsh and Baby Einstein creator Julie Clark. It is kid friendly but very frank about everything from online child predators to inappropriate sites and how to avoid them and its aimed at kids ages 4 to Jr High. Go to www.thesafesidedvds.com

YOu might be interested to know there is a partner dvd on stranger safety that is excellent too. Check them out, you'll be glad you did. My kids and I really got a lot out of these.

love www.besafe.com Great filter for internet sites.
I also wouldn't worry too much about what your daughter saw online. I'd just have a conversation to re-assure her and as long as you talk to her about it, I'm sure she'll get over it with a healthy view on ADULT sexuality. But I'm sure I'd freak too. Good luck!

Create her own identy, and set the parent control to E, and you can control the time she is on it also. Plus it will give a report of her activity.

Wow that's sad she had to be exposed like that at such a young age. Good for you to take care of it right away though! I'm just looking into some protection software and can't remember which I had decided on but I think it was either Net Nanny or Cyber Sitter. Check a couple review sites like CNet.com to see their reviews compared to what you're looking for. I personally want to monitor the instant messaging and myspace correspondance, but you're not to that point yet so something else might be cheaper or more efficient for you.

Your daughter's Google search was innocent. At that age, they are becoming aware of boy/girl dynamics, crushes, where babies come from, etc. Sounds like she was curious, and was too afraid or shy to ask you questions. Now she might even be more so, due to the fact that she lost her computer privileges. (She's probably also a little horrified by what she found on the google search!)

Sounds like an age appropriate birds/bees discussion is in order. Let her know that she can come to YOU if she has questions about this stuff, and not the internet.