How Parents Can Help the Media Center Achieve Its Goals

  • Encourage your children to read.
  • Show an interest in the books your child brings home.
  • Read with your child on a daily basis.
  • Encourage your child to take good care of library materials.
  • Provide a safe place for him/her to keep library materials at home.
  • Provide a sturdy bag so your child can safely transport library materials to and from school.
  • Help your child remember to return materials on time.
  • Use the public library with your child.
  • Provide close supervision when your child is using the Internet at home.

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Safe Surfing with your Family

"Safe surfing" is a family affair. Please consider the following safe surfing guidelines: Parenting for the virtual world is very similar to parenting in the real world. Your kids don't go anywhere unsupervised before you're sure they know the rules and how to handle themselves. They don't talk to strangers if you're not around.

Before Your Child Goes Online:

  • Teach yourself about the Web.
  • Check with public libraries and community centers for information sessions.
  • Yahoo! has a introductory tutorial called Yahoo! How-To.
  • Place your family computer in the most public area of your home where it's easiest for you to monitor their computer use and activities.
  • Familiarize yourself with parental control software, and check out the control features of your online service or ISP. Nothing is foolproof, but adding these programs to regular supervision may give you additional peace of mind.
  • Get to know the communication tools your child uses. Much of a child's time online is spent communicating and interacting with others. 
  • Create a "Family Pledge for Online Safety" that states what your children are and are not allowed to do online.

When Your Child is Online

Surf with your child - it can offer you a window into their interests, concerns, and ways of thinking. Enjoy this opportunity to have fun together, while explaining what is and isn't appropriate for them to do, and why.

Evaluating Web Content

"The Four A's" of good sites for kids:
Accessible, Accurate, Appropriate, and Appealing.