Safe internet access for kids

[JosefinaS]

My son is eight y.o. and the same situation
He surfs in the web from my Mac-book when I'm at work. For some reasons, using default parental controls isn't convenient to me, so I've installed a keylogger (ActyMac DutyWatch), that takes screenshots, shows internet and application usage history and records keystrokes. The most useful feature is alarm-emails, that are send to me when he types a "banned" word. Thus, I feel secure about my child.
Good luck to you!

[Snowfire]

Hello and welcome JosefinaS

I'm not familiar with that application but isnt it all a bit like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted ?

[JosefinaS]

Originally Posted by Snowfire

isnt it all a bit like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted ?

I see what you mean, but I have my reasons to it. My son is aware of the monitoring software installed on the computer, so he knows that when I'm at home I can check his activity. So he wouldn't play computer games for hours, as he knows, I don't allow it.
You can't block access to every internet source that can be dangerous. Predators can contact kids on forums and chats that are designed for children (and I guess, it's easier to do it there). In this way the keylogger helps, as I can see what my son's on-line conversations are about.

[spot]

It sounds a very sensible approach JosefinaS, I'm sure it will have a considerable effect. It takes time for you to regularly check and if you don't the effect will fade, I'd let him help you do it now and then.

[Snowfire]

It's good to know you are monitoring your sons activities. Too many people just leave them to it with no control at all

[JosefinaS]

Well, thank you

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by JosefinaS

My son is eight y.o.

That quite clearly comes ounder the heading of supervision & monitoring, and is eminently sensible.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Originally Posted by spot

. It's underhand when it's anonymous.

I tend to agree with you . It's a bit like trolling really.

Josefina, what sites do you feel he will access? He's eight and on your computer browsing internet sites? forums? or interest groups?

I know which sites my children are on, and I do tend to give my children a lot of freedom and credit for brains. I would suggest 8 is a little too young to be accessing the internet (while you're at work) but if you're comfortable with that, no biggy.


I'm more uncomfortable with the portable Ipods, dvd players and mobile phones in which the children can take away with them .
A computer is a large object that sits in the family home in which most family members have a use. With more than one computer in the house usually they are all connected to the main *host * PC. I honestly don't think the majority of older children are that silly to sit in the open and access stuff they know they aren't supposed to.

Too many people just leave them to it with no control at all

I have one rule for my boys and one rule only ..................You can do what ever you want and have as much freedom as you want ............until you're dishonest or **** up.

[JosefinaS]

Originally Posted by fuzzywuzzy

Josefina, what sites do you feel he will access? He's eight and on your computer browsing internet sites? forums? or interest groups?

He is mostly interested in cars and gaming.
You know, these pop-up ads are so shameless, they are so hard to avoid and they usually contain links leading to porno-sites and so on.
The other point is that he visit different chats from time to time, I don't want to prevent him from it, as it's common within his friends, but I need to see what he writes there and what is written to him to make sure he is safe.

[KarmaDoodle]

I'm glad to hear that everyone is looking for safe sites for their kids to visit and engage with - it's too bad not all parents do that! ABC News had an article last week, "Top 9 Ways to Keep Tabs on Your Kids This Summer," and it's not surprising that numbers 1 & 2 have to do with internet safety and monitoring online activity. This topic has been in the news a lot recently. I'm doing some work with Stop H*Commerce which is specifically for educating people on cybercrimes and home network protection. It's pretty interesting!