Ask Parry!
Special reports
Ask Parry! is a service where Parry Aftab, noted online safety and privacy expert, and Executive Director of WiredSafety.org can answer your questions about online safety, privacy and security, and help you with problems you encounter online. Anything from help finding a safe chat room for your teens, to knowing what to do if the item you bought at auction doesn't arrive as promised.
There are two ways to make sure your child is Internet-safety-savvy.
One is by teaching them how to make responsible decisions, online and offline. Teach them how to use the filter between their ears. We need to become cyber-savvy to guide our children online with the skills we use in guiding them through life offline. That doesn't mean we have to become techies, it just means that we should understand what the risks are, and how to manage them-our own way.
What if you don't understand the risks, and how to avoid them? No problem. It's much easier than you think.
You can read our free Parent's Guide to Online Safety, support our group by buying my book, The Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace (McGraw-Hill, and in U.S., U.K., Singapore and US/Spanish editions).
You can watch our Parent's Guide to Online Safety video. You can also learn about the risks online at sites, like WiredSafety.org, WiredKids.org, WiredKidz.org, wiredteens.org and WiredPatrol.org and from other wonderful "WiredKids safe site" awarded sites, such as SafeKids.com and SafeTeens.com, GetNetWise.org and SOC-UM.org.
The second is to have them learn directly themselves through safe surfing sites and clubs, online safety programs in their schools and community centers. and through WiredKids and WiredTeens Safe Surfin' videos.
