| Virtual Worlds are proving to be great, safe web | | | | words and phrases, and they block attempts to |
| places for kids to have fun and interact with | | | | communicate phone numbers, email addresses or |
| others. The attractive safety features that virtual | | | | other personally identifiable information. |
| worlds are providing are popular amongst parents | | | | It's important for the virtual worlds to provide a |
| looking for web security for their children. But | | | | safe environment for children, to encourage |
| these safety features are not the only reasons | | | | increased membership numbers. But even so |
| that virtual world memberships continue to grow | | | | parents should encourage the following behavior:- |
| and new kids virtual websites continue to pop-up. | | | | - Never give out your personal information online. |
| Virtual worlds really appeal to children with their 3d | | | | Personal information includes things like your real |
| animation, colorful worlds to be explored, and the | | | | name, address, phone number, e-mail or school. |
| ability for kids to create their very own avatars. | | | | - If someone says or does something that makes |
| Unlike watching television, in a virtual world a | | | | you feel uncomfortable, or if they ask for your |
| child can fully interact. | | | | personal information, tell your parents right away. |
| Not only are virtual worlds a fun place for kids, | | | | - Never give out your password to anybody, |
| but parents can feel comfortable that the sites | | | | even if they say they work for the virtual world. |
| are generally made to be educational allowing | | | | More guidelines about how to protect your kids |
| children to learn and grow whilst still enjoying | | | | online can be found at these locations:- |
| themselves. They develop keyboard skills, | | | | U.S. Federal Trade Commission, at |
| practice reading, mathematics, commerce, and | | | | FTC's kids safety site, at |
| participate in creative role playing. The cooperative | | | | Think U Know in the UK, at |
| nature of virtual worlds helps children develop | | | | Cybersmart in Australia, at |
| important social skills while gaining a deeper | | | | For parents who are concerned about their |
| understanding of their role as members of a | | | | children spending too much time in a Virtual World, |
| community. | | | | some sites have timer's to help parents keep |
| Virtual kids worlds offer various safety features. | | | | track of their child's usage. |
| Parents are asked to stay involved and in many | | | | Each virtual world is unique and some kids will be |
| cases are asked to give their permission at | | | | more attracted to one rather than the other |
| different stages of a child's involvement in the | | | | based on their own personality, age and |
| virtual world. Permission is normally granted to a | | | | interests. Security features in virtual worlds can |
| child's action by a parent confirming an email | | | | also differ. We encourage you to look through |
| request from the virtual world. Kids love to | | | | the different virtual worlds and explore their |
| network with their friends and with the virtual | | | | features before your child jumps in. A great place |
| worlds allowing text chatting between avatars, | | | | to start is at Cool for Kids who provide a list of |
| the virtual worlds for the most provide message | | | | virtual worlds for kids. |
| filtering to help prevent the use of inappropriate | | | | |