by Tamra Thomason

Created on: May 22, 2008

Here are 10 things you can do as parents to help keep your children safe on the internet.

1. Talk early and often: Internet sites meant for even the youngest children still often want the user to register before accessing the site. Even your young children should know not to type in his/her real name or where they live. Have a family junk e-mail address that everyone uses to register for things like this because after registering, that e-mail address will start getting some pretty nasty junk-mail. Yahoo, Google, MSN, and others all have free e-mail you can sign up for.

2. Sign an internet usage agreement: As the children reach puberty, make a contract that states what kind of behavior is acceptable on the internet and the consequences for breaking those rules. Don't forget to let them know that you will not tolerate cyberbullying. Teach them what you want them to do if they are ever contacted or if their browser gets redirected to an inappropriate site.

3. Communications are not private. Computer activities, phone conversations, instant messages, on-line profiles and written notes should not be considered private in your home. Privacy is reserved for dressing and undressing and using the bathroom. I used to tell my daughter "If it's under my roof, it's my business." Let them know that legally you could be held liable.

4. Position computers with internet access only in open traffic areas of your home. Cell phones and laptop computers are harder to regulate so be sure you know what you child is doing if they are spending time behind closed doors.

5. Make use of parental controls from your ISP or search online for software you can install that allows you to block content and sites and/or monitor on-line activity. Periodically check the browser's internet history and read e-mails in the "sent" folder. If you don't know who your children are sending the e-mail to, question them. Make sure they are not the perpetrators of cyberbullying.

6. Talk to parents of your child's friends and agree on mutual standards that will be enforced when you children are in each other's homes. If they are uncooperative, you have a reasonable excuse for not allowing your child to visit.

7. Look over their shoulder, ask questions like "Who is superdude?"

8. Give them examples of how easy it is for others to be misleading on the internet. Teach them not to ever meet someone they know only from the internet unless you are there too. Make sure young boys know that they are just as often targeted as young girls.

9. Teach them what information can be used to identify and locate them. Include real name, parents name(s) (can be looked up in the phonebook), city, age, school (can be looked up in a yearbook) and school activities for starters. None of this information should ever be given in an on-line profile or in any on-line conversations. Even if they are talking to someone they know, these bits of information can be strung together later by predators to identify and contact your child. Remember, all information from chat rooms and instant messages and e-mails are stored on servers for years.

10. Don't allow your children to have visa gift cards as these can be used to purchase access to inappropriate adult sites without your knowledge.

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