Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children's rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because "our current system of education has broken its promise..." Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.
Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Home Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education.
The internet is a wonderful tool, making resources readily available to a larger number of people than ever imagined, making communication with people all over the world an easy task, and making online homeschooling a viable option for home education. The World Wide Web, like many great resources, is open to abuse and it is important to instruct our children in proper use of the internet for their benefit and safety.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, "The single most important thing to promote [internet] safety - talk to kids about the rewards and risks of internet use." Open communication with your child is a great way to keep them safe and aware when they are online. As a parent, what can you say to your child?
First of all, be careful when you choose your search engines. You may be surprised to find out that there are some that are designed especially for kids and others that have child-safety options. Secondly, instruct your child to tell you or another adult present as soon as he or she comes across anything online that creates discomfort or unease. These sites can be documented and blocked, ensuring that they will not be visited again. There is software available that helps filter inappropriate web content. Thirdly, it is important to instruct your child to refrain from disclosing any personal information when chatting online or posting on a blog. There are people online that specifically target young children, requesting this information, so beware! Finally, make searching the internet a group effort whenever possible. Helping your child search the web can be beneficial for the both of you.
Learning about internet safety so you can best protect your child does not stop here. There are great resources available online. For example, NetSmartz offers information on how to be safe on the internet. This tool is great for children and parents alike. CyberTipline is a place to report inappropriate online solicitation or unsuitable content specifically geared towards children. There is also a site, Don't Believe the Type, which instructs you and your child on how to avoid dangerous situations on the web and how to read warning signs.
The internet is a great tool and can aide in education in many wonderful, blessed ways, so let's be smart about internet safety!
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Online Learning: Home-schooling With a Learning Management System
- The Leading Prek-12 Online Christian Home School Program Provider
- What are the Benefits Of Home Schooling
- Home Schooling Education
- Online education – Ease of School from Home
- Education News: Online Home School Ensures a Quality Education
- Online Home Schooling Resources
- Online Education and Your Home Schooling Child
Does Homeschooling Create Superior Students?
By: Janus Rivera | 08/11/2009Believe it or not, some homeschooled children out performed those who studied at Harvard!
Homeschooling children with special needs
By: Natalie van der Vyver | 05/11/2009Homeschooling your child with special needs, let's you accommodate the challenges of your child’s disability better and allows your child to enjoy a better and more appropriate education.
Educating Your Family and Friends About Your Decision to Home-School
By: Melissa Murdoch | 04/11/2009While your decision to home school is uniquely your own, it is great if you have the support of your family and friends too. Unfortunately, getting your friends and family on board can sometimes be challenging. For the uninitiated, home schooling can be a new and strange concept, even though we, as a society, have actually been home schooling for centuries.
In Bible versus Quran: my beloved's fruit was sweet to my taste
By: Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil | 31/10/2009In the Bible, King Solomon says in his Song: my beloved's fruit was sweet to my taste, was sweet to my palate. In the Noble Quran, the well-known Prophet King Solomon does not say that.
Home Schooling Advantages and Disadvantages
By: Monty Carlos | 31/10/2009Home Schooling like anything else has its advantages and its disadvantages. People generally have mixed opinions whenever the topic of home school is up for discussion. Some can only think of the many benefits with regard to money, time and convenience and some bring to light only the drawbacks and inadequacies associated with home schooling.
Educational toys best for kids
By: Bernard Mcclain | 29/10/2009For the 5 years old children, this is the right age when the decisions about their formal education should take place. Although some children start going to schools or start taking pre-school classes at this age, yet this can be quite scary for the others, because until this age majority of the children have been spending their time with their parents or with close relatives and could not have a chance to spend the time with the complete strangers. This, no doubt is a major and importa...
Christian Homeschooling
By: Allan Tan | 29/10/2009In the NHES (National Household Education Survey) of 2003 and 2007 more than two-thirds of parents gave their concerns about the school environment as a reason for homeschooling. Moral and religious instruction, as a reason, was given by 83% of the parents.
Can My Homeschooled Child Attend University?
By: Melissa Murdoch | 24/10/2009The question, “Can my homeschooled child attend University?” is a perpetual one for homeschooling parents. The fact of the matter is that yes, a homeschooled child can absolutely attend university, and some institutions even lay aside spots in their freshmen classes for homeschooled students.
Public School Graduates Reject Christ
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingWill your child believe in Jesus when he or she graduates from high school?...
Homeschool Students More Socialized
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingMore than any other issue, the socialization question seems to scare away parents from homeschooling...
Home School Myths: Low Education Standards" Myth of Homeschooling
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingLet's be honest: When people here the term "homeschooling", one of the first images that pops into their mind is a backwards, old-fashioned, inadequate form of education...
Home School Myths: No Socialization" Myth of Homeschooling
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingOne of the greatest myths that exist about the homeschooling phenomenon is that children who learn at home will not develop the necessary social skills needed for later in life...
Home School Myths: I Don't Have the Ability to Homeschool" Myth
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingMany parents are growing discontent with the services the public school systems have to offer, yet private schools are too expensive...
Sex in the Public Schools
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingThe Washington Post states that 900,000 teenage girls become pregnant each year...
Drug and Alcohol Use in Public Schools
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingDrug and alcohol use in our public schools is one thread in an enormous tapestry of dangers that public school students face each year...
Decline of Academic Excellence in the Public School
By: Mimi Rothschild | 08/05/2007 | HomeschoolingTo most homeschoolers, the decline of academic quality in America’s public school is not news...