It’s not as easy to shop for school supplies these days. Yes, children still need pens, notebooks and binders — but they won’t survive without the latest technology, which is a computer.
Wakefield Research recently conducted a survey to determine that computers play a significant role in homework assignments for children from the ages of 10 and 17 years. Children aged 6-17 are estimated to spend three hours each day surfing the Internet. But, this is not the only problem. computer useParents should be concerned that a child is so young.
“If your child is about to hit double digits, computers are going to be a routine part of their afterschool homework,”Kevin Frost, Vice President of HP’s Volume Business Unit, explains. “HP shares parents’ online safety concerns and offers a variety of desktop and notebook PCs with some exclusive offers and deals for students getting ready to go back to school.”
Is it possible for kids to have fun while being safe online? Parents prefer to be able to provide safety for their children, rather than hoping for it. Survey results showed that over 28 percent of parents would rather give their child a credit-card at the mall than leave them alone at home with a computer.
Over a third (33%) of parents who were surveyed believed that their children are more at risk if they surf the Internet without parental supervision than if they stayed with friends.
Despite these concerns and the fact that students tend to use computers more than they used to, 66% of parents have not taken simple steps like using parental control software or blocking inappropriate websites.
Here are some tips from HP to keep your children safe, while still allowing them to do their schoolwork.
* Select the right computer. A family desktop PC is a computer you can use to keep tabs on your child’s computer use. HP offers two desktops that are student-friendly and offer a 60-day Norton Internet Security Trial. These include the Pavilion 23 All in One and TouchSmart 332 All in One.www.shopping.hp.com
* Use parental control software. Set time limits and limit inappropriate websites to monitor your kids’ online activities. Select HP PCs come with Norton Internet Security up to two years free of charge.
* Talk to your kids. Your kids may be “digitally savvy,”But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t learn internet safety lessons from their parents. Talk to them about not clicking on any suspicious links or sharing personal information.
