Internet Safety Awareness Program Educates Parents and Guardians

February 21, 2008

Melanie Allen, a regional agent in family and child development with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, recently partnered with the Lauderdale County Sheriff Department and the Florence Police Department Missing Children’s Unit to present a countywide awareness program on Internet safety.

Computer exploration opens a world of educational possibilities for children. Unfortunately, sexual predators can use computer online services and the Internet to exploit children. Adults should be familiar with MySpace, FaceBook, YouTube and texting shorthand, which are used by many youth to communicate with their friends.

"Internet safety is an issue that requires parent-child communication and trust. Children need to understand the seriousness of Internet safety and that safety rules are for their protection," Allen said.

"Adults need to be educated so they know how to talk to their children and know the signs indicating a child may be at risk online," added county Extension coordinator Randall Armstrong.

Participants in the Internet Safety program on how to keep youth safe on the Internet, security, tips for parents and guardians, a list of we sites and an introduction to chat acronyms and text messaging shorthand.

A police department investigator gave a Powerpoint presentation explaining how predators seduce children with attention, affection and kindness. The investigator explained how predators listen to and empathize with children’s problems to gain their trust then they try to talk them into a face-to-face meeting.

A representative from the sheriff's department also shared information on how to register a sex offender, Megan’s Law and new law requirements.

The program also provided participants with a parent-child Internet safety contract. Children and their parents are asked to sign and date the contract, which states that if children don't abide by the rules, their parents can take away online privileges.

Response to the program was good. Participants said it increased their knowledge of how sexual predators prey on children and how parents can protect children. Parents said the program helped them feel more comfortable talking to their children about Internet safety rules and that they would share the information with other parents.

After the program, Allen received phone calls from adults requesting copies of the program handouts. Callers wanted to know when the program would be offered again.

For more news from Lauderdale County, visit http://www.aces.edu/Lauderdale.

Posted by dreynold on February 21, 2008 03:52 PM
Grassroots - News from around Alabama - RSS Feed