Do you let your children play on the computer unsupervised?

[Rising_Suns]

.

 

[colleen]

It may be best to define what age you mean when you say children.

 

[Rising_Suns]

It may be best to define what age you mean when you say children.

I would say, at the age in which they begin having "legitimate" reasons to use the internet (like for example, school projects, research, etc.).

-Davide

 

[MezzaMorta]

I let my 12 year old cousin on the computer when I am takeing care of him, though he spends more time on his video games. I never turn the history off on my internet so i can see what he looked at afterwards and it has never been anything i would consider inapropiate for a child of that age.

 

[AdJesumPerMariam]

We have the main computer, the one the kids are allowed on, in an open location, very open

The other one, in the computer room, when the grandkids all want on, isn't as open, but we walk in all the time, and we allow them to only get on a limited account.

 

[BAFRIEND]

One trick I have is to not allow any storage space for cookies when I leave the computer. This makes it impossible for anyone unsupervised and naive to log into a site like CF or to change the safety filters on Google or use a third party anonymous search engine and change the filter systems.

My sites are always stored in favorites and the history is always set to clear after 1 day. Just like being tidy I guess.

I prohibit any personal information about our family on the WEB, especially in chat rooms or forums.

I also have search and recover software that allows me to recover anything that has been deleted, even if it has been emptied from the recycle bin.

 

[MezzaMorta]

One trick I have is to not allow any storage space for cookies when I leave the computer. This makes it impossible for anyone unsupervised and naive to log into a site like CF or to change the safety filters on Google or use a third party anonymous search engine and change the filter systems.

My sites are always stored in favorites and the history is always set to clear after 1 day. Just like being tidy I guess.

I prohibit any personal information about our family on the WEB, especially in chat rooms or forums.

I also have search and recover software that allows me to recover anything that has been deleted, even if it has been emptied from the recycle bin.

Wow, your kids arn't going to get away with anything eh

 

[Miss Shelby]

None of your business.

 

[BAFRIEND]

None of your business.

What's that ?

 

[Miss Shelby]

I am answering the poll question.

 

[Rising_Suns]

I would also be curious to know if anyone here uses monitoring/parental controls software. And if so, how effective it has been (assuming that can be determined).

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Well, if you want to call Spector Pro 8.0 running in secert unsupervised that yes.

(Could have it running your computer, you'd never know. )

See me for details

 

[MezzaMorta]

I would also be curious to know if anyone here uses monitoring/parental controls software. And if so, how effective it has been (assuming that can be determined).

Nah, even children have a right to privacy. I wouldn’t have wanted my parents reading my emails or such when I was 12 (if we had a computer) so I wouldn’t subject that upon a child now. There are plenty of programs out there that do that, but if your kids ever find out they might be pretty resentful.

 

[BAFRIEND]

Nah, even children have a right to privacy. I wouldn’t have wanted my parents reading my emails or such when I was 12 (if we had a computer) so I wouldn’t subject that upon a child now. There are plenty of programs out there that do that, but if your kids ever find out they might be pretty resentful.

I agree with you to some extent. As far as emails go, anyone who writes to their peers deserve the same privacy as if it were a private conversation, but I do have the right to know exactly who it is they are writing to. No strangers.

Allowing privacy is a priviledge and a matter of trust. violate the trust and you can forget the priviledges.

I conducted a poll in CP&E asking if a 14 year old child posting a question about his sexuality on a WEB site :
what the appropriate response would be.

Well you would be amazed how many well meaning folks have no problem discussing sexual issues with young kids on the internet behind the parent's backs.

Despite my many objections and arguments these helping hands still insist that encouraging or advising a kid they do not know who is confused about his sexuality is okay and that a kids own parents are naive and stupid and not understanding.

 

[ZooMom]

The computer my kids have access to is in an open location and there is a cybersitter program on it that filters certain words, sites, etc... They have a specific time limit as well. Of course this is only for internet usage. Most of the time they spend on the computer is not on the internet. Games, drawing...that sort of thing.

 

[WarriorAngel]

My kids have their own computer and it doesnt have interent...just their games and art on it.

And they dont use it that much.

SO I dont monitor them.

 

[BillH]

Mine NEVER uses the internet. We don't even let him see the screen yet.

 

[MezzaMorta]

I agree with you to some extent. As far as emails go, anyone who writes to their peers deserve the same privacy as if it were a private conversation, but I do have the right to know exactly who it is they are writing to. No strangers.

I agree depending on the age, but I think educating them about the dangers of the internet and ensuring that they do not fall into a predators trap is a lot more effective and responsible then spying on them or blocking them access totally.

Kids are resourceful, they can pull things off right in front of you will out you knowing.

 

[Airicon]

Well, this was in our local paper the other day. The author recommended K9 Web Filter as a way to police us kids on the internet. It's free also.