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The Parent Page
**October Library Events**

**Friday Read Alouds** Every Friday 3:30 - 4:00 October 7th - Principal Smith October 14th - Karen Young October 21st - Tom Wellington October 28th - Lizzy Applebee

Monday October 3rd - 3:00-4:00
 * October Used Book Sale **

If you would like to volunteer at the library, please feel free to contact either Ms. Switzer or Ms. Slater. We are always looking for volunteers for read alouds, books shelving, and working the monthly used book sale. See you in the library!

**Fright Free Surfing: Tips to Scare Away Internet Fears**



The tales of the perils and pitfalls of children and the internet are more horrifying than any of the movies on TV this time of year. However, if you are aware and prepared, you can make the internet a safer place for your children. This month in our library classes, we have been teaching the students the importance of surfing safely and smartly. On this page you will find tips on internet safety and links to websites where you can find more information on this topic and learn what you can do to keep your student safe.

**What Can You Do To Minimize The Chances Of An On-line Exploiter Victimizing Your Child?**

[|Information courtesy of the FBI's website]
 * Communicate, and talk to your child about sexual victimization and potential on-line danger.
 * Spend time with your children on-line. Have them teach you about their favorite on-line destinations.
 * Keep the computer in a common room in the house, not in your child's bedroom. It is much more difficult for a computer-sex offender to communicate with a child when the computer screen is visible to a parent or another member of the household.
 * Utilize parental controls provided by your service provider and/or blocking software. While electronic chat can be a great place for children to make new friends and discuss various topics of interest, it is also prowled by computer-sex offenders. Use of chat rooms, in particular, should be heavily monitored. While parents should utilize these mechanisms, they should not totally rely on them.
 * Always maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail. Be aware that your child could be contacted through the U.S. Mail. Be up front with your child about your access and reasons why.
 * Teach your child the responsible use of the resources on-line. There is much more to the on-line experience than chat rooms.
 * Find out what computer safeguards are utilized by your child's school, the public library, and at the homes of your child's friends. These are all places, outside your normal supervision, where your child could encounter an on-line predator.
 * Understand, even if your child was a willing participant in any form of sexual exploitation, that he/she is not at fault and is the victim. The offender always bears the complete responsibility for his or her actions.
 * Instruct your children:
 * to never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met on- line;
 * to never upload (post) pictures of themselves onto the Internet or on-line service to people they do not personally know;
 * to never give out identifying information such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number;
 * to never download pictures from an unknown source, as there is a good chance there could be sexually explicit images;
 * to never respond to messages or bulletin board postings that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing;
 * that whatever they are told on-line may or may not be true.

Additional websites to visit for internet safety information

[|Wired Kids]- This site is split into sections for kids, tweens, teens, parents, and educators.

[|Parent Further] - Tips, FAQ's and information about internet safety and cyberbullying.

[|NetSmartz] - Offers free, multimedia //Internet safety// presentations tailored for specific audiences.

[|Common Sense Media]- Information to help children stay //safe// and smart while using the internet.

[|KidsHealth] - How to make sure your child surfs the web safely.