BT advertorial children online

Getting children online

In association with BT

The old joke about your children being better at using technology than you may still ring true but, like everyone, they have to start somewhere. When it comes to the internet, there are plenty of opportunities to get them started early and by showing them the ropes - and hopefully they will soon be able to help you make the most of any new features!

Of course, while the online world is a marvellous place, it can also be fraught with danger, so it's vital that your children first understand the potential risks and know how to behave while surfing. Make sure they understand the internet is a public place, and just like any public place in the offline world, they need to be careful about the information they put out and the friends they make. Strangers online are still strangers, even if they do say they are the same age and share the same interests.

For parents, the best way of ensuring your child stays safe is to monitor their activity. If they join a social networking site, you can check out who their friends are and vet any comments. And by sharing your time online, you'll be able to see the sites they visit and act accordingly. Many broadband packages also come with parental control software, which means the less salubrious areas of the internet will be off limits to your offspring.

But on to the fun stuff. Probably the best place to start is the CBeebies website, where kids will recognise their favourite characters from the freeview channel. There are games to play, songs to sing and stories to tell, with much of the content aimed at children who can't yet read. It also gives you the opportunity to watch some of the programming directly on the site. For children who are a little bit older - generally who have started primary school - there's CBBC, which has more advanced content.

Search engines are key to making the most of the internet, and while you can ensure kids don't access inappropriate content through adjusting the privacy settings on the major sites, there is one, askkids.com, which has been specifically set up for children. Designed for youngsters aged 6-12, its focus is education, some of which may be a bit US-centric for schoolchildren in the UK, but also has plenty of options to explore what's on the internet.

If your child wants to set up a social networking page, there's nothing to stop them from using the ones used by adults, such as Facebook or MySpace. There are controls on said sites to protect them, and it's easy for you to become a listed 'friend' so you can keep an eye on who they are talking to. Bebo, however, has been created for younger users, and has a variety of safety features, including a strong anti-bullying message, that will help protect your kids. Even with such online protection in place, it's important that you still keep a close eye on what they are up to.

If your children want an email account, many broadband providers offer a number of email addresses so each member of the family can have their own mailbox. Alternatively, try one of the many free services such as Gmail, which offers a perfectly good service at no cost.

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