child protection on a P.C.

mandragora_2

paul2468 wrote: »

.is there something i can put in place to restrict what he can look at.

The 'off' button. I don't really mean that to be as sarcastic as it may come across, but the bottom line is that the most basic child protection you can have for the internet is a set of ground rules and the clear understanding that the computer will be removed from him if he abuses the facility.

A really good resource is 'Digital Parenting' - website link is here, with specific section for parents on this link: http://www.vodafone.com/content/parents/get-started.html

The magazines themselves are full of useful advice, hints and tips, and worth a read of it you want to find out more. The other site which I'd also heartily recommend is the CEOP website - again, I've given you a general link which you should be able to navigate your way towards the areas you most want to find out about:
http://www.ceop.police.uk/

At the end of the day, teaching your child safe and appropriate behaviour online is exactly the same as teaching him that behaviour in any other area of his life - you want a balance that you're comfortable with, a trust he can grow into and ground rules that you believe in and will enforce.


Sorry if that came across as a bit 'lecture - y' - I don't mean it to, and I don't want to overstate or over-dramatise the situation, because your question is just a simple one, but if you get this set up right, right now, it will pay dividends in the long run. You're doing exactly the right thing in monitoring and checking his useage, and you've set about it in the right way, with proper concern. At the end of the day, you might not be surprised if he were to smuggle the odd 'mucky book' into his room, but you perhaps wouldn't encourage or ignore it given that he is only ten. This isn't that different, other than the stuff he might stumble across could be much nastier than anything he'd get from the local newsagent...