To all parents,

Given all the technology created to keep you and your family safe from online criminals and (for lack of a better word) "garbage sites", there is only one thing that is guaranteed to work best. That's you!

How? Here are some simple tips to get you started:

• Get more actively involved in you children's "online" lives. Know what they are doing.
• Place your computer in a den, or family room or another high traffic location, even the kitchen.
• You can use screening devices like: Cyberpatrol, Net-Nanny, Surfwatch etc.
• Watch for children spending extended lengths of time at the computer.
• Limit your child's access to specific areas of the Internet.
• Set limits on computer use to specific times.
• READ unfamiliar Email.
• Monitor how frequently you get unfamiliar Email
• Become more computer literate when you can
• Sit and work alongside your child while he or she is online
• Warn your child to be very cautious of online strangers.
• NEVER allow your child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without your permission.
• TEACH your child how to communicate online while not revealing any personal information such as phone, address, age, Email address, etc ...
• Monitor your long distance phone bill.
• Encourage your child to report suggestive, obscene, belligerent or threatening bulletin board messages, websites or Email to you or to a high tech investigative authority.