One parenting issue that has been plaguing our family is internet safety.

All six of us (even the 3 year old) are somewhat techno savvy - at least we like to think so. Our two existing computers are in constant use and may soon require a sign up sheet with time limits.

It is definitely time to upgrade! But what does that mean? Choosing the right system for our busy home is a difficult process.

In a perfect world where budget, space, and internet safety concerns are not issues I suppose each of us would have our own laptops so we could happily compute anywhere to our hearts desire. That, of course, does not exist.

However, I am tired of sharing a computer with my children. My computer is my modern day filing cabinet and it is quickly becoming disorganized. Having different user accounts has only added to the clutter. And logging someone else off and myself on every time I need access is time consuming.

Clearly, two computers are the way to go. One for me and one for them. Now internet safety rears its ugly head. The dangers are out there, no doubt. But the internet is also a rich and wonderful resource. Knowledge of all things “tech” will help the children go far in whatever career they choose and the wealth of information available on any subject is mind boggling.

How should a parent balance the two sides of the internet? With all the “parental controls” out there, I could make a career out of monitoring my family’s internet usage. Definitely not practical. So, I will begin our upgrade process with the following considerations:

Internet Safety through Strategic Location
First, the location of the kids computer is a key strategy for internet safety. If I station the computer in our living room, yes - living room, I will be more likely to be involved in where the kids are surfing or what they are doing online. The living room works for me because it is adjacent to the kitchen and because it is not an area where the kids normally play. So, if someone has a school project (like Ancient Egypt), they have a somewhat quiet area in which to do their research. As computers become more sleek, perhaps they will blend better with the decor.

Internet Safety through Choice of Desktop vs. Laptop
A Laptop is tempting, especially if it is in the living room. What could be better than tucking the computer away when company arrives? NOT a good idea. I can forsee my not-so-future teenager wanting to squirrel the laptop to his room where it is quieter and less chaotic. Of course, he will play the education card - saying that he will do better schoolwork in a calm environment. And I will either cave or suffer an argument. So a big behemoth of a computer is probably the best choice for our internet safety plan.

Open Communication is Key to Internet Safety
I continually speak to my children about using caution on the internet. I go down the list about personal information, no chat rooms, etc. But if we come across something inappropriate, I try to be matter of fact and not make a big deal about it. A frank discussion about what happened seems to work. By giving them respect, I hope that they will continue to reciprocate by using the internet wisely. Keeping in mind that forbidden fruit is always more attractive, I have not ventured into many blocking techniques to ensure internet safety. Right now, I channel the kids to websites and applications that I think are appropriate and that they enjoy. There is only so much computer time in the day and if they use this at sites they like then hopefully they won’t have time to go elsewhere.