I don't know if there is a "net
sitter" that will totally protect your child.

If it were me, I would be purchasing some software packages (many available for different ages)and installing them on the computer. It is very easy for a child to get confused, and if your net sitter isn't up to snuff, you could be asking for trouble.

I would not have given my DD access to the internet when she was 7. We had several software programs available for her use. The selection is amazing. I have an 8 year old nephew who uses software and doesn't access the internet. He is perfectly happy with the selection and doesn't even realize that he's not on the internet Honestly, I don't think he really knows what the internet is, or for that matter, old enough to understand the safety issues. When DD was your son's age, she received different software for holiday or birthday gifts as these programs are not inexpensive. At about age 12, she was given a software program (I believe Cosmo) that let you put your picture in and it allowed the user to change their hairstyle, color, etc., very interactive.

I thing there are many better choices available than internet. The benchmark in my mind is when your child is old enough to understand that using the internet is a safety issue, and is not without a down side.

If you are insistent on the internet access for your child, I would contact the school your child attends and speak with the computer or IT person there to see what they have equipped the school computers with. Even at that, when your child begins using the computer at school which does access the internet, you have to sign a release form to let him participate. Essentially you release the school from any liability.

It just raises a red flag for me since your son is so young, and I have seen so many negatives of the internet access and young children.

Best of luck!

Add my name to Labmomma's post. A 7 year old does not need internet access. Until he is actually old enough to do research projects for school entirely on his own he does not need internet access.

I even feel strongly about too much time spent on the computer with software programs. I'd rather see a 7 year old outside playing, trying different sports and activities and playing board games with family. Those skills will have a much more positive lasting effect on him than sitting at his own computer.

Ditto to the above two posts.

Perhaps you could put the computer in the family room, so you can hover around when she is using it. You can check on her and make sure she is doing what you want her to do.

Children have to become good at using the internet and computers, it is their future.

I sometimes wonder if the computer skills comes at a cost of loosing skills in other areas, such as play, and exercise. Its a delicate balancing act.

All the best with your daughter and her computer.

Popi

Ha! I let my son on the computer, after all, it's important for kids to be computer savvy. He had typing and chess games and little friends from school online.
I checked his bookmarks, I checked his sent emails. One day I found out he had joined and been posting for 1 day on a furries site. OH. MY. GOD! He thought he was talking to people who liked to dress up and work at Disney or Chuck E Cheese. They thought he was prime grade A meat. He had posted his age and pervs were flirting with him and his inbox was flooded, all in 1 day.
He's not allowed to be online anymore. End of story.

RIGHT ON.
Reading these posts gives me such encouragement. I live in an area where kids are frequently pushed (IMHO) to jump on the information superhighway before they are allowed to get their ears pierced or to ride a skateboard. As a parent wanting to put big boundaries around computer/online use, I often feel like a salmon swimming against class 5 rapids. But the parents here give me hope. Thanks for the encouragement - you are doing the absolute right thing with your kids (IMHO...).