Safety council back with updated Internet class

Parents: Do you know that that some video game systems can give kids access to the Internet without you knowing?

Or what's the best software to prevent your children from visiting adult Web sites?

The Barrington Area Safety Council is reprising its popular "Keeping Kids Safe Online" session for parents at 7 p.m. today at Barbara Rose School in South Barrington.

The program is meant to teach parents how they can safeguard their child's Internet activity.

"While there are so many rewards (to the Internet), you just have to be smart in terms of the real dangers," said Margaret McSweeney, a safety council member.

Presenter Chrissie Mena said she recently updated the course to include some of the new Internet dangers, like being able to get online through video game consoles.

"It is radically different," Mena said of the new presentation. "It is just little things to make parents more aware of what's out there."

Besides the parent portion of the program, the safety council is also offering a presentation specifically for students.

The program, also at Rose, help teaches kids at an early age how to protect themselves on the Internet.

"You have to know how to be safe and have fun at the same time," Mena said.

The program divides students by age so they can tailor what is taught.

The older students are given tips on how much personal detail to reveal about themselves on social networking sites.

More and more college admissions officers, Mena said, are searching online social networking sites to learn more about some of their applicants when trying to decide whom to admit.

"The last thing you want is to be embarrassed," she said.

For details on the Barrington Area Safety Council, visit www.safebarrington.org.

If you go

"Keeping Kids Safe Online," presented by the Barrington Area Safety Council

• Where: Barbara B. Rose School, 61 W. Penny Road, South Barrington

• When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday

• www.safebarrington.org.