Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn To Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: financial identity information, other troublesome groups, many social networking sites, United States, New York Times (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Willard blends the perspectives of a wise parent and a serious scholar about issues related to Internet behavior and safety. . . . Pick up the book, open it to any random page, and you will find on that page or nearby a wealth of helpful advice and useful commentary on the cyberreality facing our children and on how to deal with any of the issues she's identified."
—Dick Thornburgh, J.D., former U.S. Attorney General; chair, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Youth Pornography and the Internet

"Simply put, this book is a must-read for anyone—parents, educators, law enforcement, and policymakers alike—concerned with the critical issue of children's internet safety and what to do about it."
—Douglas Levin, senior director of education policy, Cable in the Classroom

Product Description

Essential strategies to keep children and teens safe online

As our children and teens race down the onramp to the Information Superhighway, many parents feel left behind in the dust. News stories about online sexual predators, child pornography, cyberbullies, hate groups, gaming addiction, and other dangers that lurk in the online world make us feel increasingly concerned about what our children are doing (and with whom) in cyberspace. In Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Internet safety expert Nancy Willard provides you with need-to-know information about those online dangers, and she gives you the practical parenting strategies necessary to help children and teens learn to use the Internet safely and responsibly.

Parents protect younger children by keeping them in safe places, teaching them simple safety rules, and paying close attention. As children grow, we help them gain the knowledge, skills, and values to make good choices--choices that will keep them safe and show respect for the rights of others. In Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Willard shows you how those same strategies can be translated from the real world to the cyberworld, and that you don't have to learn advanced computer skills to put them into effect. As you work on these strategies with your child, you will also discover that remaining engaged with what your children are doing online is much more valuable than any blocking software you could buy.

"Willard blends the perspectives of a wise parent and a serious scholar about issues related to Internet behavior and safety. . . . Pick up the book, open it to any random page, and you will find on that page or nearby a wealth of helpful advice and useful commentary on the cyberreality facing our children and on how to deal with any of the issues she's identified."
--Dick Thornburgh, J.D., former U.S. Attorney General; chair, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Youth Pornography and the Internet

"Simply put, this book is a must-read for anyone--parents, educators, law enforcement, and policymakers alike--concerned with the critical issue of children's internet safety and what to do about it."
--Douglas Levin, senior director of education policy, Cable in the Classroom

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (March 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787994170
• ISBN-13: 978-0787994174
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #277,187 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Home Computing > Internet > Web for Kids
  #11 in	Books > Children's Books > Computers > Internet
  #23 in	Books > Teens > Science & Technology > Computers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Book for Parents and Teachers, March 20, 2007

By	Janet S. Reid (Santa Barbara CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wish there had been a book like this when my two boys were exploring the internet in the 90's. Things have gotten even more troubling for parents today and this book will help guide them through the difficult job of parenting in our new online world.

It is filled with great suggestions and a lot of information---and to be honest, some of it is very frightening from a parent's point of view. But if knowledge is power, this is a book that all parents should have when trying to navigate the very difficult job of parenting in this new and rapidly changing online world. There are sections for parents of younger children, 8-10 year olds, 11-13 year old, and 14-18 year olds. There are suggestions for "teachable moments" and how to guide your children to ethical and safe uses of this technology.

In my opinion this is a "must buy" book for parents and educators. Thank you, Dr. Willard.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cyber Savvy Parents (and Teachers), March 26, 2007

By	Walt Le Baron "drnortla" (Menands, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most folks are aware of such internet dangers as free-flowing pornography reachable by kids, but how many are aware of all the other dangers facing young ones such as identify theft, addictive gaming schemes (as time wasters and replacement for real world activities), the ability to down load term papers and other works so as to avoid homework, or, again, the rights of sites to do whatever they want with up-loaded materials, a condition which can cause extreme embarassment and even financial loss? Willard's excellent text deals with each potential danger accoding to type and age group. Each chapter begins with an incident demonstrating the danger (an excellent awareness-building tool, especially for those of us who had no idea this particular danger existed)followed by an analysis of what is involved in the danger, and then positive and usable advice for parents on how to prevent their children from falling prey to the danger. But make no misake, Willard is a strong advocate of the benefits of internet participation for children when they are properly supervised, and that does not mean peeking over their shoulder all the time. This positive attitude towards the internet, the while recommending non-invasive supervision is a remarkably well-developed strength of her book. She is not whining about the dangers or urging censorship as so many gloom and doom critics do; she is providing a positive means for parents to help their children make the most of their web experience, an experience critical to every youngster in this age of the cyper-reality of communication. (A prototype parent-child agreement is included, and should be a valuable tool for developing cooperation among family members). As an educator, I find this book an essential tool for all teachers and school administrators, and, of course all librarians, who need this background to appreciate the pitfalls which may occur in classrooms and reading areas and how to be aware and prevent them. And a school board will find this study an excellent reference for developing appropriate policies for the district.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for concerned parents, June 23, 2007

By	Lee Sebastiani (Eynon, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've worked with kids and computers since 1979. Nancy Willard is my go-to authority for encouraging children's safe and responsible Internet use. Her latest book is theoretically sound, well-researched and comprehensive (including the very latest technologies) and offers a practical approach to this serious issue. It's also well-organized, with recommendations for specific age groups. Nancy knows all about the dangers and benefits of going online, and CYBER-SAFE KIDS will help parents act as guides and mentors, not cyber-watchdogs.