Internet Safety

From the library's Internet Access Policy: "Parents and guardians are responsible for their child's choice of workstation and Internet activity, whether or not the child has a library card. Upon signing for a child's library card, a parent or guardian assumes responsibility for their child's access to all resources in the library, including electronic resources such as the Internet."

Safety online for all ages continues to be a complicated issue.  Here are some resources to help you ensure that you and your children are safe online:

• Media Smarts: Canada's Centre for Digital & Media Literacy
  Lots of useful information for parents and educators on internet safety, what children are doing on the internet, and advertising and privacy issues. Also includes an interactive game for children.

• GetNetWise
  Features include a safety guide, parental tools, and websites for kids, as well as information for adults about internet security.

• Net Cetera
  This resource covers what parents need to know, where to go for more information, and issues to raise with kids about living their lives online.

Screen Time

The Canadian Pediatric Society offers up these tips for managing children’s exposure to TVs, computers, gaming devices, smartphones and tablets:

• Create limits
  Avoid screen time before the age of two and encourage good media habits from the start. The sooner you create limits, the easier they will be to maintain.

• Look at your own habits
  How much time do you spend behind a screen each day? Your child learns from your behaviour, so it might be time for a change.

• It's all about balance
  Encourage a balance between screen time and other activities like sports, hobbies and outdoor play. This is something they can do on their own, or you can do as a family.

• Time to disconnect
  Choose a time of day to be "family time," when no one is distracted by screens. Ask your kids to give you their phones at a designated time so they can learn the value of screen-free time and the importance of being disconnected at night.

• Get involved
  Use media with your child. Learn what they enjoy and talk to them about it. The more you are involved in your child's online life the more you can help them make safe choices.

"Canadian doctors offer tips to limit kids' screen time, after U.S. gets new set of guidelines: Pediatricians in Canada will issue similar guidelines on digital media exposure next year"  - Cassandra Szklarski, Canadian Press, October 28 2016