Hello!

My grade 8 son has to use internet to research for school, and I do supervise but I can not watch every minute of the time that he is on it. I recently found out that he had been using it a lot for inappropriate actions and thought we had explained it well and he understood the dangers for his actions and had stopped. Only to find out today that these have continued. Previously I explain the reasons for why I have set rules etc and he listens but now all we are faced with is “nobody ever listens to me”. I do and I explain all he has said so he knows that I have listened. I am at a loss of what to try next. I can not remove all access and I am unable to watch for every minute he is on this, any suggestions on ways to approach situation?

Emailed by Cassy 17/06/2013

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  • Is it possible you can block the inappropriate sites? Is the computer in an open area? That would also help. That and closer supervision is the only way to go.


  • you cannot supervise them all the time, net nanny and filters can help, speak to your school, they may have suggestions as to the best one that they recommend, however kids are savvy and smarter than us when it comes to techie stuff, I would lay it on the line that if it continues then the internet will be gone, and no access except at the local library or school for a period of time, it would be inconvenient for you but you would only have to stand your ground for a few weeks and maybe it would work, but I would be talking to the school as they are usually really up with what the kids are doing at the time and can help with filters,


  • I agree sometimes it’s impossible to monitor them 24/7 get a parental filter program, which restricts what they can access


  • There are some really great programs now that restrict certain sites without restricting access.


  • You can get family filters installed on your computer, hope its all worked out well for your family


  • How are they going with the internet?


  • Make it so that Internet can only be accessed in the family room where you can keep an year on him while doing things?


  • what did you decide on?


  • What did you end up doing?


  • If he keeps doing it you could lower the internet time allowed (he obviously has enough time to do research and other things) and explain how it hurts that he is being so disrespectful.


  • How is he with his internet usage now?


  • Some good advice below – hope some of it will help.


  • It looks like he is doing something that many kids do his age. It would be best to put a barr on it though for any adult content.


  • Lots of useful tips I hope you resolved the issue


  • Oh no he is using the actions. That’s not good. Get a filter put on the computer


  • Lots of good suggestions here, I hope you managed to work something out and its going well.


  • Can’t u get filters that block those sights?


  • You could set up a filter program if you really can’t supervise him.


  • not that we’re at that stage yet, but I would say for home work only during the week, & perhaps a few hours (max) on the weekend. I much prefer them to be outside.


  • You may have to install a program letting you block certain sites, or limit his use of it, i.e. he can only use it for school, supervised, until he can be trusted with it.


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