The power of the internet is that using it connects a single person to nearly everything in the world instantaneously. And, of course, this is the danger, too. Here are some Pointers for Parents on teaching your children to be safe on the World Wide Web.

• Be informed.
  The number one best way to keep kids safe is to keep in close touch with technology and your kids' use of it. After all, in the "real" world parents need to know where, when, and with whom their kids are hanging out. On the web, the same is true.
• Set reasonable, clear, age-appropriate rules.
  Make sure your child understands what the rules are and why the rules are what they are. Young children should use only pre-approved (typically educational) websites. With preteens and teens, be wary of making rules based upon myths, exaggerated fears, or technological ignorance. Teens see through this and lose respect for all computer rules, even the good ones. Two websites that have good ideas for age-appropriate rules are Netsmartz and Web Aware.
• Monitor children personally and frequently.
  Simply buying an internet content filter NEVER works effectively on its own, especially since kids access the internet from different computers, such as at the library, school, and friends' houses. Physically watch children while they are online frequently. Talk often with your child about their online activities, friends, cool sites, etc. Ask specifically about bullying, sex talk, requests for meeting or personal information, or anything else bothersome. Check the web "history" to see what sites have been accessed. This history can be deleted, so consider buying software that creates a history that cannot be deleted. Set up a regular schedule of inspections of internet history to avoid drama when an inspection seems truly needed. Monitoring 100% of activity is impossible. Being a good listener -- knowledgable, compassionate, helpful, understanding, and firm as a parent -- helps kids be honest with you and follow the rules.
• Keep the computer in an open room.
• Revoke internet priviledges as a last resort.
  If trust is broken, revoke the priviledge of using the internet. Or, require that you or another parent sit with the child while using the internet (if the child must do schoolwork online). Be aware that kids can access the internet from friends' houses, the library, and even some video game devices, such as PSPs.

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Part of the text of this webpage was encoded in HTML by the 2008 Computer Club

*SENSE is not affiliated with the websites and companies linked to, and SENSE does not necessarily endorse its programs, products, or all of its philosophy and advise. These links are provided as merely a good starting point for research and discussion of family internet safety.