[Hidden-tech] Email for kids

[Matthew Crocker]

You can setup a new mail account with any mail provider and use Apple  
Mail on OS X for your security.  If you setup their own accounts on  
OS X you can lock down the mail application to only allow mail to/ 
from specific people.  If they want to e-mail one of their friends  
you'll need to authenticate the address with your OS X administrator  
password.

OS X has everything you need.

Apple Menu
-> System Preferences
--> Accounts
---> Create a new user
----> Select Parental Controls
----->  Click on Mail and you can add the addresses your son/daughter  
is allowed to exchange e-mail with

You can do the same with iChat and Safari

Log in with their account and setup their mail account with your  
chosen mail provider (I hear crocker.com is pretty good ;).  Apple  
mail will automatically delete mail  that isn't from people on their  
list.  I think it may send you a permission e-mail if you need to  
authorize inbound mail before they get it.

My kids are still too young for e-mail so I haven't played with this  
but it is available.

On May 16, 2006, at 2:13 PM, David Spound wrote:

>    ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to  
> post .
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>
>
> I am seeking advice about *safe* email options for kids. My son  
> (age 13) and
> daughter (10) have been asking for their own email addresses. While  
> I can
> easily set them up under my own domain, I am concerned about spam and
> safety.
>
> For those of you with kids, what have you done about email?
>
> Options I have considered include:
> * Email accounts that I would occasionally monitor. Not because I  
> want to
> read messages from their friends, but because I want to be aware of  
> what
> they are receiving. My kids hate this idea and I'm not totally  
> comfortable
> with it either.
>
> * Email programs that uses a “white list” — I would input addresses of
> friends and family members and these would be the only people from  
> whom my
> kids could receive messages.
>
> * A hosted service like Kid Safe Mail <http://www.kidsafemail.com>
>
> Any suggestions would be welcome. Software recommendations would  
> need to run
> on Macintosh computers (OS X).
>
> I want to trust and respect my kids AND keep them safe.
>
> Thanks,
>
> David
>
> ++++++++++
>
> David Spound, M.Ed.
>
> Valley Mindfulness
> Meditation and Stress Reduction: Workshops, Classes and Coaching
>
> (413) 219-0654
> david at valleymindfulness.com
> http://www.valleymindfulness.com
>
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> * Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, June 20 – August 8 (Tuesday  
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>
>
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--
Matthew S. Crocker
Vice President
Crocker Communications, Inc.
Internet Division
PO BOX 710
Greenfield, MA 01302-0710
http://www.crocker.com