Comcast offers tips for parents on talking to their kids about keeping safe online

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

It’s as important to tell children about the dangers of the Internet as it is to instruct them in the mysteries of the birds and the bees, according to a new survey from Comcast Corp.

One survey finding: “Although 95 percent of parents believe it is just as important to talk about online safety issues with their children as it is to talk about sex education and the risks associated with drugs and alcohol, only 65 percent have actually had that discussion.”

Another survey finding: Many teens are not fully aware of some of the risks associated with their online activities.

 Philadelphia-based Comcast sells a range of services, including cable TV entertainment and Internet access. It also offers the Constant Guard Protection Suite, which is designed to provide Comcast Internet customers with online security and safety. Constant Guard offers such features as password and virus protection that are included in an Internet customer’s monthly bill. For additional charges, Constant Guard offers optional features, such as added protection against identity theft.

In addition, Comcast has set up a special website that provides parents with tips on how to start and guide conversations with children about their online activities. The guides were created by Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston. Separate guides are available for separate age groups, including teens, tweens, school-age children, and preschoolers.

The guides are available to everyone, not just Comcast customers, and can be downloaded for free at http://xfinity.com/constantguard or at the Center for Media and Child Health website at http://www.cmch.tv, Comcast said.

“Because a child’s exposure to and use of the Internet changes over time, it was important to create conversation starter guides for parents that represent the different stages of a child’s life,” Rich said in a statement. “For example, you can’t talk to a preschooler about the Internet the same way you would talk to a teen about the Internet. The short and simple guides that have been developed can help parents navigate talks about things like safety, the amount of time spent online, and appropriate online behavior.”

Comcast said its survey was conducted by the research firm Penn Schoen Berland, which polled 1,610 people nationwide.