Today's younger generations are highly engaged with computing. Gaming, web surfing, social networking and chatting are all activities children these days have grown up with and consider a vital part of their lives. Kids today don't remember a time where playing outside was the center of after school fun and rainy days were truly a bummer. Weather is hardly an issue for kids these days. Since the advent of computers, rain or shine, there's always a time to go online!

Computer activities can be so engrossing that time passes quickly during play. Chances are children will not be able to regulate their computer time and it is up to parents to provide this monitoring. Time is not the only thing parents need to monitor - Internet activities should also be carefully supervised. As valuable as the Internet can be, unfortunately it has drawbacks too. The very nature of the anonymity on the web can be a recipe for disaster when kids begin interacting with others online.

Internet socialization activities are a virtual playground for predators and as parents we must take care so our children are safe online. Much like the way we supervise our kids in the offline environment, we also must guide our children to understanding the safety rules of the Internet. It is inevitable your child will be exposed to Internet access, so the best way is to not prevent them from usage, but teach them the strategies and ways to protect themselves.

There are many ways you can effectively monitor your child's and reduce the risks of your child falling prey to the dangers lurking online:

*Talk to your child(ren). Discuss the dangers of predators online. Teaching kids about strangers is nothing new. It's important to educate them of the extra risks the Internet is in addition to "traditional" stranger rules. Many children are feel their "buddies" online are trustworthy because they believe their "pals" are who they say they are. Take the time to explain to your child that people are not always honest and since you can't see them, they can easily lie about their identity online.

*Educate yourself. Give yourself time to develop a full understanding about parental controls, tools, social networking sites and keep up to date on the latest trends. Know about the areas that appeal to children so you can effectively assess their suitability.

*Parental controls. These tools can offer an extra layer of protection; they are not meant to replace parental eyes, but rather enhance

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