12 Ways To Keep Kids Safe On The Net

The following are a few simple tips that can help you keep your children safe on the internet.

1.) Make sure that screen names don't reveal too much about your child.

2.) Create your own Computer Rules and keep them posted on or near the monitor.

3.) Monitor the amount of time they spend online and the websites that they've visited.

4.) Create a shared family e-mail account rather than letting your kids have their own accounts.

5.) Place the family computer in a common area, rather than the child's bedroom for easy monitoring.

6.) Create a personalized online environment for your kids by "bookmarking" a list of acceptable sites.

7.) Visit the Web sites your child visits. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with your child’s online world.

8.) Talk to your kids about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other activities.

9.) Warn your children not to give out any personal information online; no names, no phone numbers, no addresses.

10.) Invest in some internet safety monitoring software that allows you to keep tabs on your children's online activities.

11.) Encourage your kids to come to you if they encounter anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened.

12.) Explain to your children that people are not always who they say they are so they should never meet in person with someone they met online, no matter how long they've been communicating with them.