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The internet is a scary place. We need to protect our children from the dangers lurking on the other side of their computer screen. Aside from throwing away the computer, what steps can we take to protect them? We have discovered two great internet filters for keeping our children safe while online. For kids 3-8, Peanut Butter PC is our choice. For kids 9 and up, K9 Protection hits the mark. Here we will look at both.
Peanut Butter PCWho it is for: This internet filter is great for little ones just getting used to the computer. There is no double clicking necessary and there is no reading required.
What it can do: This program provides parents with peace of mind. You can launch it from your desktop or you can program it to launch upon start up. Once your child enters Peanut Butter PC, he will not be able to leave. Each child gets to select a character as his or her user. Once they click on that character, they enter into their own personalized desktop (featuring a tree house). Your child can select websites (from among the ones you have pre-chosen) to “hang” on their tree house. Once they enter the approved website (say, PBSkids.org), Peanut Butter PC will block any pop ups and will not allow your child to go to another site. Once your child is done on that site, they simply click the arrow at the top of the webpage to return to their personalized desktop. They can also access programs and games stored on your PC from their desktop. One of the greatest features is that you can disable the printer option (no more “accidentally” printed pages!). Your child cannot exit Peanut Butter PC without a parent entering a password.
Cost: $24.95 (at the time of this post)
Bottom line: We feel that this is a great bet for parents who want to allow their young children access to the computer without fearing that their computer will be damaged (ctrl,alt, del is disabled) or that their children will be exposed to questionable material.
K-9 ProtectionWho it is for: This is for any child over 9 who is ready to enter the world of on-line research.
What it can do: This free software has a high level of customization. Once installed on your child’s PC, you will have confidence knowing that your child is protected. You can choose various levels of blocking (from ultra strict to moderate). You can also add another layer of protection by blocking certain sites such as YouTube or Facebook, if you desire. If your child attempts to access one of these sites (either inadvertentlyor on purpose) you will hear a loud bark alerting you to the fact. If one of your blocked sites is attempting to load as a pop-up, you will hear a bark (and that portion of the screen will be blocked), but your child will be allowed to continue to view the page. If you desire, you can override a blocked site by entering a password for a specified period of time. You can also review your child’s search history simply by accessing the parental controls via a password.
Cost: FREE!
Bottom Line: Paired with a child-friendly search engine (like Yippy!), you can allow your child to “surf the web” with a confidence that he is being protected.
Of course, none of these software programs are a substitution for diligent and effective parenting. We cannot completely delegate the job of protecting our children to a piece of computer programming. We need to educate our children about the dangers of the internet, teach them reliable sources for information and continually monitor their media usage. We can protect them without smothering. We can equip them without fear. These two internet filters simply make it easier to do so in this technology-driven age.
