Health Gateway Program  

At Tutu's House

“Exploring health information on the Internet"

Be Web Wise and Surf Safely In Cyberspace

The Internet is similar to a big city. There are millions of children, teenagers and adults who use the Internet for fun, education, and to get information that will help them in their life. There are millions of Internet Web sites; some are great sites, while some of these sites are like hanging out in a dark alley in a big city - not the place to be!

If you were traveling to a big city, you would be careful about how you travel, who you talk to and the new friends you may meet. The Internet is no different. You wouldn't talk to a stranger in the city - and you shouldn't when you are online either. Just like in a real city, you should make sure you protect your privacy, and to let a parent or adult know when you have been asked to give information that makes you feel uncomfortable.

The Internet is a public place, just like anywhere you go in your community (i.e., the library, the movie theater, the gas station, etc.). You will meet people on the Internet whom you do not know, and you will have less information about them than you would if you met them in your community. The same rules that apply to meeting and talking to strangers in the real world apply doubly to the Internet. A few "nevers" to consider:

·         Never give your name, address, or phone number to someone you do not know,

·         Never give out a credit card number online unless you have a secure window,

·         Never reveal any Internet access passwords or other passwords to anyone, and

·         Never agree to meet face-to-face with someone you met on the Internet unless it is with someone else, in a public place that you are familiar with and can easily get into and out of.

There are so many places to visit on the Internet and so many things to do, it can be overwhelming. This also makes it difficult to find the information you’re looking for.

If you have questions about the Internet and/or Internet research, please contact Joan Campbell, Health Gateway Team Leader at Tutu’s House, 885-6777.

Fun and Interesting Sites for Kids & Parents

Knowledge Hound (http://www.knowledgehound.com) is the place to be when you want to learn how to do something online and for free! Whether you want to make a pizza, play guitar, pitch a baseball or just about anything else.

Safe Surfin’ (http://www.safesurfin.com) main goal is to help children, teenagers and adults understand how to safely surf the Web so that using the Internet and being online is a safe and fun experience.

American Library Association’s Links (http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/) provides a variety of links to start your Internet search, for kids and adults, like Volcano World, Virtual Frog Dissection kit, Magic School Bus, Dinosaur Society and many more.