Page 1 of 1
Parental control tips
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:52 pm
by realgoogler
I have n't thought about this as much earlier. But as my son is growing up and will be starting to use computers I am beginning to think. How do I make sure that he is not exposed to adult and violent contents. I don't have intentions of spying or limiting computer usage yet.
I am looking for opinion on best and easy option to setup parental controls in home computer. Also if you can share stories how kids have tried to overcome the hurdles, that will be good to watch for.
Parental control tips
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:44 am
by OurGen-X
There is a certain level of control or restrictions that can be set on the browser itself (Tools->Internet Options-> Content tab in Internet Explorer). This should allow for basic filtering of most of sites that you do not want your child to be stumbling across.
Another suggestion by the so-called experts is to move the PC from the bedroom to the living area where there is more movement of people around. Also, disable public chat rooms. Predators are most commonly found in chat rooms in the guise of 12 and 14 year-olds.
Most importantly, COMMUNICATE with your child at an appropriate level and talk to him or her about the dangers lurking online. Do not assume that your child is too young to know what YOU think they are too young to know. Eventually, they are going to hear various often elaborated versions from their peers at school and it is best to nip curiosity at the bud by giving relevant information that will quench their thirst for knowledge.
Child-rearing! Who said it is a joke!
Parental control tips
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:52 am
by gulfIndian
I want to share our experience when our daughter was 15 almost three years ago. I knew she was using IM for chatting with her girl friends most of whom we knew well. I never expected our daughter will be into something bad. I am sure most parents will think nothing bad about their ?sweet? ?innocent? little girls.
One day I was listening to ?Kim Komando? radio show as I was driving. If you have not heard that try listening as it is broadcast from many US stations, I think. It is a very informative talk show. I could hear it here through Armed Forces Radio Service. (There are some advantages too in having US armed forces nearby!). In that show, Kim said that so long as the children are living with you, even if they are in fifteen of sixteen, you have the right to monitor their internet usage without their knowledge and she suggested installing a key stroke catcher spy ware to find out what they are doing. Of course what she said was in the context of American children.
However it set me thinking and after a lot of mental debate over many days and after discussing with my wife, I installed software and we found her passwords and all the text messages she typed. We went to her email and read some mails. We found that one of the neighbourhood girls, a year older than her was having a crush on a boy of the same age who is our opposite house neighbour. Our daughter was being exploited to pass on messages and play pranks on the boy to tease him by the other girl. We found that our daughter was innocent and was only being dragged into this without knowing the dangers involved. As the seriousness of the pranks are increasing, we wanted to put an end to it. We called all the parents concerned home and the girls and talked out everything. The parents of the other girl were so notorious for their arrogance, without the proof of the mails written by their daughter, we would have been accused of making up all these and our daughter being responsible for spoiling all the girls in the neighbourhood. The other girl was made to apologise to everyone and it was decided that my daughter will stop all IM and all other communication with the other girl. (However we knew later they remained friends in the school for over a year till the other girl left the country for her university studies.)
What happened after that is something I never expected. My daughter was very angry and upset that we spied on her and read her mails. I suppose any teenager in such a situation would have been upset. I think we fail to understand adolescents properly. We explained to her the circumstances and promised her it will never happen again. However, she never accepted our explanations. Perhaps some other individual would have accepted it, but not her.
Now after two years, she is quite normal with me, but I think she has developed a hate for me in a corner of her heart for what I have done. . She confides more with my wife and once I think my wife has told her that it was my idea first to install the spy ware. My wife told me so during one of the tiffs we had.
I am left wondering if my action had put any psychological scar in my daughters mind. I keep debating to myself, if what I have done is worth the price I pay for it. What would have happened if I had not spied and my daughter had been into more seriously bad things? What could I have done differently? I find there is no best solution and I am the looser in everyway.
I am sharing these experiences as I do not wish it on anyone and it may help someone sometime in their life.
Parental control tips
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 1:30 am
by Chicago Desi
gulfIndian;47037
I am sharing these experiences as I do not wish it on anyone and it may help someone sometime in their life.
[/quote]
First of all, kudos for the courage to make such a heart felt post.
This is a tough proposition. I do not know what you could have done better. Parenting is tough. Sometimes, its a lose-lose situation. I am not sure how one can approach such a tricky situation.
I am not sure if others have any suggestions. This is a situation that each parent will have to go through at some point in time.
Perhaps, letting kids know that such software is installed and ask them to be careful is the way to go?
Parental control tips
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 1:34 am
by OurGen-X
# 4 - Sorry to hear about your predicament, which apparently has been lingering in your household. I'm sure your daughter will see the lighter side of your actions once she becomes a parent. However, by your own account, your actions seem to be a bit "over the line" and your daughter appears to have reacted as expected of a teenager. Now, what would I have done differently had I been in your situation? I don't know. If only kids were born with a manual which gave the exact solution for various issues parents encounter for the first couple of decades of their lives! I know it is easier said than done, but as a parent we all seem to let several opportunities to talk to our children slip by and ultimately let our emotions and instincts decide what to do under drastic circumstances.
I still believe that it is absolutely critical for parents to become involved in their children's lives not to the extent of "controlling" them or over-taking their lives and making their decisions for them. But rather, teach children the values of honesty, integrity, trust and good judgment and be a friend, philosopher and guide from a safe distance. To win the child's confidence and give him or her the courage and comfort to share fears, apprehensions, problems and victories in their growing years. Believe me, the time invested in your child's present day will definitely ensure a well-rounded individual in the future. This does not mean that they will be perfect individuals. They will also make mistakes and even blame us for it. But as long as we allow them to learn from their mistakes and be by their side as they pick themselves up, I believe that will help build character and integrity.
I know all this sounds so "Dr. Phil", but the truth is, children are not just the result of "the moment of truth" but the windows through which you will see the distant future.
Parental control tips
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:46 pm
by dbs
gulfIndian;47037I want to share our experience
What happened after that is something I never expected. My daughter was very angry and upset .
Now after two years, she is quite normal with me, but I think she has developed a hate for me in a corner of her heart for what I have done.
Perhaps, you should console yourself that you protected your daughter from something bad happenning to her, even though you have sufferred personally in your relationship with her. I would, and I would do it even knowing that this may happen.