Keeping your children safe on the internet involves many of the same things you do to keep your child safe off the internet.

Education is power. Arm your children with knowledge about internet perpetrators. Teach them not to talk to strangers (on or off line) and tell them not to share personal information- especially addresses, phone numbers, activity schedules etc...

Children too young to be left at home alone, are too young to be left on the internet, alone. Supervise your young children while they are on the computer, the same as you would supervise them while playing in the backyard.

Get parental safety controls. These controls allow you to select what sites your children may and may not have access to. They allow you to block unsafe and unhealthy sites, such as porn sites, and adult chat rooms.

Know your child's friends. Make sure you know who your child adds to instant messengers, and who they have listed as "friends" on sites which allow interactive chatting.

Monitor your childs actions on the internet. Depending on the age of your child, you may need to check his/her myspace page, messenger lists, etc... on a regularly basis.

Think of the internet as an extension of the "real world". Make decisions about your child's internet use based on your child's age and maturity level, the level of trust you believe your child is worthy of, and your child's level of social and emotional development.

Talk, Talk, Talk to your children. Your children learn about internet safety from you. Simply refusing to allow them to use the internet, once they are in the adolescent and teen years, is a mistake. Your child will be able to access the internet at school, at the library, and at friends homes. It is crucial that you teach them how to use it safely, talk about their choices with them, and give them education, and experience, in a safe and healthy manner. If your children make bad choices on the internet, cutting them off of it isn't going to solve the problem. Children will find other ways to access the net. Teach them how to think for themselves, and guide them in making better choices in the future.

Learn more about this author, Randa Morris.
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