Kids > Family guide to the Internet > Internet safety for families

Internet safety for families

NetzSmartz: http://www.netsmartz.org

Games and activities teach kids 5-17 about safety on the Internet and how to protect themselves. Parents and educators will also find resources and activities to share with children. NetzSmartz is from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
GetNetWise: http://www.getnetwise.org

This educational site on Internet safety offers websites and Internet tools for families to discuss Internet use and behavior. Information and links for filtering software is also included on this site plus fun links for kids and families.
Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents & Kids: http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/guide.html

Here is a basic introduction to the Web and the Internet for families by the American Library Association.
Entertainment Software Rating Board: http://www.esrb.org/

This independant board has a standardized rating system for interactive entertainment software products and online game sites. There is a list of rated companies and a parent guide.
Families Connect: http://www.ala.org/ICONN/familiesconnect.html

Kids and parents can learn together about the Internet, from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).
Wired Kids: http://www.wiredkids.org/

Information for parents and online safety programs for children, tweens and teens.
Safe and Smart: http://www.nsbf.org/safe-smart/

This site offers guidelines and research about children's use of the Internet.

Chat Rooms for Young People:

These chat sites are monitored.

Kidzworld Chat: http://www.kidzworld.com/thirdparty/digichat/

Chat online with friends. Check times for chatting.
Kids' Turn Central: http://www.kidsturncentral.com/chatindex.htm

Chat or contribute to the Kids' Turn Magazine. Chats are for kids age 16 and younger.
Isafe Chat: http://www.isafe.org/

Check schedule for chat times.
KidsCom: http://www.kidscom.com/chat/kidschat/kidschat.html

Meet new friends.
Girlzone: http://www.girlzone.com/html/cov_b-boards.html

Post messages on bulletin boards with different themes. Messages are posted then monitored for content. This site is for teen and tween girls.

E-mail Pals

ePals: http://www.epals.com/

Find an e-mail pal or go to Student Talk an post on the message board. You can read and post messages to people around the world in several languages.
Intercultural E-Mail Classroom Connections: http://www.stolaf.edu/network/iecc/

Subscribe to the lists offered by this organization to find e-mail pals for your students.
Kidlink: http://www.kidlink.org/

This international organization's goal is to involve kids up to age 15 in a global dialog. Teachers can become involved in the organization as well.
International Email Tandem Network: http://www.enst.fr/tandem/email/idxeng00.html

Through this site, students who have been studying a foreign language for at least several months can be linked with a partner who is a native speaker of the language the student is learning, and who is also learning the student's own language.
Internet Keypal Exchanges: http://www.cln.org/int_keypals.html

Community Learning Network has compiled sites to help teachers find keypals for their students. Also included are links to information on netiquette and Internet abuse.

Search Engines and Directories

These sites select kid friendly content.

ALA Great Sites: http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites

Sites are selected by librarians in areas of interest to kids. Also included are sites in Spanish and sites for parents and teachers.
Ask Jeeves for Kids: http://www.ajkids.com

Type in a question and Jeeves will search for you.
DibDabDoo: http://www.dibdabdoo.com/

Search engine with a database of a million adult reviewed sites for kids and teens.
KidsClick!: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/

This directory was created by librarians from the Ramapo Catskill Library System in New York state.
Multnomah County Library Homework Center: http://www.multcolib.org/homework/

Over 4,000 sites were especially selected for Multnomah County students.
Awsome Library: http://www.awesomelibrary.org/

Over 20,000 sites reviewed by educators for kids and teens. Great for homework. You can search in several languages with the translation service.
Surfing the Net with Kids: http://www.surfnetkids.com

Sites are organized by subject, rated and reviewed. A weekly newsletter highlights sites on a particular subject of interest.
Yahooligans: http://www.yahooligans.com

Find games, homework help and entertainment sites.