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Nowadays, the Internet has become an everyday tool in our lives and in our children lives. Parents face a mission of protecting their kids in the cyber world.
The Internet has become the playground for many young children. Young children, from age two, use the Internet to play games, learn, socialize, interact with each other and much more.

There are many sites that are suited for kids, even from young age, but surfing the Web is not such an easy task for them. Young children (2- 6 years old) encounter problems when they try to surf the Web since their language skills are limited. Most browsers are not suited for such young children and they need their parents help in order to use them.

Since browsers are the gateway to the Internet, young children find themselves limited in their ability to use the Web. The solution for many parents is to sit down with their young children when they use the Internet and help them in their first steps in this virtual world. It is a great solution—it is not recommended to let young children to surf alone without adult supervision. Parents can use this time to teach the child guidelines for surfing the Internet. The problem with this solution is that some parents don’t have the time to sit with their children when they use the Internet on a regular basis. Also, many parents are not knowledgeable in suitable safe websites for kids.

This problem was recognized by a few companies which are trying to create browsers for kids. In general lines, kids’ browsers provide a gateway to the Internet suited for young children, allowing them to surf to websites that have content that is suitable for their age. These browsers function as enclosed environment protecting the young users from Internet threats. Most of these browsers are offered as a service in return for a license fee or annual fee.

A few examples for kids’ browsers:

• KidRocket -
  This browser is freeware. KidRocket blocks out the entire internet and only let the browser access limited, child-related Websites. It also has a feature of Email for Kids with Art/eCard attachments and a feature of time lock for limiting a child’s time on the computer.
  Its requirements are:
  A PC running Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP or Vista and Internet Explorer 5 or a higher version.
• KidSurf -
  This is a basic filter browser that allows parents to control the content their children are exposed to when they use the Internet. You can purchase a license for this product for a fee of $5.99 USD. Parents can choose from a list of websites or add their own websites to the browser favorites. There is also optional password protection of parents’ desktop and parents’ setup screen and a usage timer that parents can set to limit their child’s online time.
  Its requirements are:
  Microsoft Windows. For best results we suggest a broadband connection (Cable or DSL).

• Kidzui -
  It is a very popular kids’ Web browser. Kidzui Web browser allows children to surf only to suitable websites and also offers access to games and videos. Kidzui also is being offered as an add-on to Firefox browser. Kidzui company states that their directory has more than 800,000 sites and suited for kids 3-12. Each child that uses Kidzui can choose an avatar that represents him/her in the browser. Kidzui is offered free, but there is a charge for premium services.
  For a free account users can:
  • Access suitable content
  • Create their own avatar – Zui.
  • Be a member in the community and make (parent-approved) friends.

  For a free account parents can:

  • Add individual websites.
  • Get access to parents account.
  • Get emailed reports of their kids’ online activity.

  For a payment of $7.95 USD/Monthly or $39.95 USD/Semi-annual or $29.95 USD/Annual –
  Users can:
  

  • Get over 100 new Zui clothes and accessories.
  • Get over 40 new backgrounds.
  • Watch as friends come online and share new stuff.
  • Say Hi to their friends.
  • Set their mood activity to tell their friends how they feel.
  • Create their own channel with favorite content.

  Parents can:

  • Block individual websites.
  • Get kids’ online activity graphed for 90 days.
  • Get unlimited history of their kids’ activities.
  • Add favorites to their kids’ accounts.
  • View their kids’ top interests by their online activity.

  Kidzui requirements are:

  • Intel Pentium III 500MHz or faster processor.
  • Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or later) or Windows Vista or Mac OS X.
  • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later or Firefox.
  • Adobe Flash Player 9.
  • 512 MB of RAM or more.
  • High Speed Internet Recommended.
• KidThing-
  Kidthing offers a work environment for children, which has interesting and educational content. It is different from kids’ Web browsers because Kidthing creates its own content. It uses the Internet, but it is not a Web browser. Kids can use this product without being connected to the Internet. After downloading the software the kids have access to limited number of activities. Parents can add content by purchasing additional content such as, books, games and videos available for a fee of 3-10 USD each.
  Kidthing requirements:
  PCs running Windows XP or Windows Vista.

• Kido’z-
  Kido’z Web browser is currently free. In the future, the company intends to charge for premium services.
  It is a Web browser that allows access only to content which is suited for children ages 3-7. This Web browser offers content that was pre-filtered to suit children, games, videos and YouTube for children.
  Parents can add their own content to the system. They can also decide to share this content and have it reviewed by the company editors. If it is found to be suited, it is added to the product directory for the use of other members in the community.

  A few of its features:

  • Supports 17 languages.
  • Exit Control protected by password so the child will not be able to leave the safe environment.
  • Daily Time Limit function.
  • Automatic Customization of the content based on the settings of the child’s account such as, gender, age, language, nationality etc.
  • Video Search.
  • Content Ratings – parents can rate the content and view other parents’ ratings.

  Kido’z requirements:
  KIDO’Z uses the Adobe AIR runtime and can be installed and used on every system for which AIR is available. These are the recommended requirements by Adobe:

  Windows

  • Intel® Pentium® III 1GHz or faster processor, 512MB of RAM.
  • Recommended: Pentium 4 2GHZ or faster, 1GB RAM.
  • Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise including 64 bit editions, Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2 and SP3, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows 2003 Server.

  Mac OS X

  • Intel Core™ Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor; PowerPC® G4 1GHz or faster processor.
  • Mac OS X 10.4.11 or Mac OS X 10.5.4 and 10.5.5.
  • 512MB of RAM.

  Linux

  • Intel® Pentium® III 1GHz or faster processor, 512MB of RAM.
  • Recommended: Pentium 4 2GHZ or faster, 1GB RAM.
  • Fedora 8, Ubuntu 7.10, openSUSE 10.3.

Websites for Tweens and Teens:

Tweens (=kids ages 10-14) and teens have developed language abilities and they usually surf freely without the need of adults help. Differently from young children, they are not limited in their abilities to surf the Web. Sometimes they are more Internet savvy than their parents. On the other hand, they still need to be protected when they use the Internet.

Studies have shown that Internet parental control software has limited success in these age groups so it can not be a sole solution. Parents strive to protect tweens and teens when they use the Internet, educate them about Web ethics and warn them of Internet threats. In order to do that parents should be involved in their kids’ online activities. A great way for parents to get involved is to offer their kids suitable, interesting and safe websites. The problem is that parents are usually not familiar with websites that are relevant for these age groups.

There are sites that offer listings of safe websites for kids. Parents can use these sites in order to get familiar with interesting safe websites and direct their kids to them.

A few examples:

• SafeWeb Directory
  SafeWeb directory is a free resource for parents who are looking for kid-friendly internet sites. The directory is human-edited and spam free. Searchable by subject and age group.
• KidSites
  Children’s sites by category.
• ALA – Great Web Sites for Kids
  This site is a directory of interesting websites for kids offered by the American Library Association.

For more Information on Internet parental control you can see-
Internet Parental Control.

The Internet has become an everyday tool in children’s lives. They use the Internet to manage their social lives, get help in their homework, play games, listen to their favorite music, see movies and much more.
Parents face a new reality. They have to protect their children in a virtual world.
Many parents choose to approach this issue by using Internet parental control software that manages and controls their kids Internet use.
Unfortunately it was proven that Internet parental control software is not efficient enough to ensure Internet safety when it is used as a sole solution.
It could be more efficient when it is combined with educational efforts that teach children Web ethics and warn them of the threats that exist on the Web. Parents’ involvement in their kids Internet activities is very important. One way to do that is to offer children safe and interesting websites that they can enjoy. You can check – SafeWeb Directory website that offers safe entertaining website for kids. You can find there safe websites for kids organize by categories. You can also suggest a safe site for kids and contribute to the directory and to the effort of making the Web safe.

Symantec has launched a new online safety option for families called OnlineFamily.Norton. This service is free of charge until 2010.

Symantec’s OnlineFamily.Norton is a hybrid of a website and software installed on children’s computers that can be used to set rules, monitor activities live and deliver e-mail alerts of violations, including circumvention attempts.

In an article from the The Globe and Mail
Rowan Trollope, senior vice-president of consumer products at Symantec Corp said –

Why is it that existing parental control software doesn’t work? It isn’t just that they don’t support the new paradigms but it’s also that they have, fundamentally, the wrong approach.

It is a well known fact the Internet parental control software is not so effective in managing children Internet use. There are always new ways that children come up with to overcome the software. This is why it is so important that parents’ efforts should focus on the educational aspect. Parents should help their children to become responsible citizens and it applies also to the cyber world. Internet parental control software can assist the educational efforts, but surely can not replace them.

Symantec claims that their Internet parental control solution presents a new approach to Internet parental control. They emphasize communication rather than control. It is a great refreshing approach, but there are many Internet parental control products that already doing exactly the same. The difference between them and Symantec is in the way Symantec presents the solution. Symantec focus on communication in the family is great and her Internet parental control software is free of charge until 2010, which makes it very appealing, but parents should remember that there is no magic solution and there is no technology in the world that can replace parental guidance.

The Internet has become an important tool in our everyday lives. Surfing the Web has become second nature for our children.
In the same way we put boundaries for our children in the real world, we should also do so in the virtual world.
There are different types of Internet parental control software that were created to enable parents to manage and control their children Internet use. It is important for parents to understand that no matter how efficient the software is, it can not replace educational efforts and open communication in the family.
Internet parental control software can be efficient when it is combined with parental guidance for safe Web surfing and Web ethics.

If you decide to use a parental control software you can start with Content Advisor which is a basic tool included free in Windows for IE6 or later versions.

1. Make sure you have IE6 (=Internet explorer 6) or later versions installed.
   Open an Internet Explorer new window. In the Help menu click About Internet Explorer. If the version number is 6.xxx or later then it is OK. If not, you should download and install a later version of Internet Explorer – IE6 or later. To do that click that link – Internet Explorer. The following steps are relevant for IE7 version.
2. In the menu bar click Tools and then click menu item Internet Options.
3. Choose the Content tab and click on the Enable button.

   

4. In the Ratings tab select filter settings for the categories shown.
   When the slider is on the left side of the bar the restriction is the highest.
   For each change of rating click the Apply button. When done click OK button.
   
5. You are prompted to define a password that will be used in all future changes performed in the settings of the Content Advisor.
   
   The Content Advisor is now active.
6. After defining the password click on the Approved Sites tab. In the Allow This Web site text box type in the URLs of websites (one by one) you wish to treat specially. Choose the relevant button on the side of the text box. If you want this website not to be viewed click Never button. If you want this website to be viewed click Always button. When you are done click OK. You can edit this list at any time.
   
7. If you want to change the password of the Content Advisor or other general settings you can do so in the General tab.
8. If you want to disable the Content Advisor, open Tools menu and click menu item Internet Options.
   Choose the Content tab and click on the Disable button. You are prompted to enter the password of the Content Advisor. Enter your password. The Content Advisor is now disabled.
   

Be aware that the content restrictions exist only in Internet Explorer browsers. If you have another Internet browser, such as, FireFox or Google Chrome, installed on your computer your child will be able to surf using these browsers without limitations.

Internet savvy kids may install alternative browsers on their PC once they discover you have limited their surfing options.

To prevent such actions create an additional user on the child’s PC with limited permissions – no permissions to install new programs on the PC. Make sure you only have Internet Explorer installed on the PC and give your child access only to this limited user.

Remember that whatever you do there are children who are smart enough to overcome it if they really want to. Invest time in education and guidance for safe Web surfing and Web ethics. Remind your children what are the threats that exist on the web. Teach them how to protect themselves.

For more information on Internet parental control software see – Internet Parental Control Software