Your child and the Internet: tips to keep them safe on the information superhighway

IT'S a place where you can chat with a friend in Australia, read a South African newspaper and check out a resort in the Caribbean--with only a few keystrokes and all in the privacy of your own home. That place where the sky is the limit in terms of communication is the Internet--and adults aren't the only users. Children are more likely than adults to be online, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

"Parents, in particular, see the Internet as a resource, which it is. But I don't think parents see some of the dangers," says Herbert C. Jones, NCMEC vice president of external affairs. The Internet can be a valuable educational tool with limitless benefits. But anyone and everyone can publish material as well as access the information superhighway. Sexual predators, pornographic material and sites promoting racial hatred are just a few of the dangers that children can encounter when surfing the Net. Preteens and teens are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to go online unsupervised. Despite the dangers, there are steps that parents can take to make sure their child is surfing the Web safely.

Communicate with your child.

"Communication is one of the most important things a parent can have with a child [in terms of using the Internet]," says Jones. Before you allow your child to use the Internet, talk with him or her about its benefits as well as the various Web sites and materials to steer clear of when online. Sindy Wilson, 33, says she and her husband talked with their 13-year-old daughter before allowing her to access the Web. "We talked to her about online predators and let her know what Web sites were appropriate for her to go to," says the Oakbrook, Ill., resident.

Experts also recommend that parents tell their children what to do if they encounter something online that makes them feel uncomfortable. Instruct your child to immediately leave that particular Web site by shutting down the browser, or clicking the home icon on the computer. "Make sure that your child understands what he or she is looking for when surfing the Web, and that when there is a Web site they are not sure of, they should come to you," says Wilson.

Post easy-to-read rules for computer use on or near the computer monitor. Some of the things you may decide to include on your computer rule sheet could be what time of day your children are allowed to use the Internet, the amount of time they can spend online, as well as who they can communicate with while online. In addition to the computer rules, you can create a pledge for your child to sign, agreeing to the rules established by you. You should include in the pledge statements such as: "I will keep my identity private," and "I will tell a trusted adult if someone is harassing me."

While you may feel that your child needs privacy, most experts recommend keeping the computer in a family room or another open area of the home. Having the computer in a central location will allow you to better monitor your child's activities.

All important Internet accounts should be in your name.

Parents should also have the primary screen name and controlling passwords. If you have a younger child who uses e-mail, you should know the child's username and password. You should periodically check their activities and filter out any unsolicited e-mails. Monitor who your child is communicating with.

Limit your child's involvement in chart rooms.

Sexual predators often lurk in chat rooms, according to Jones. Oftentimes you really don't know who you are talking to. Tell your child to never "meet" someone in person that they met online. If you do allow your child to participate in chat rooms, block private messages and learn who your child is chatting with. Accompany your child into a chat room until he or she learns the safety rules you have established for them.

Consider parental locks and other safeguards.

Parental locks and filtering systems are a good way for parents to take control of what their children are doing, in addition to monitoring who they communicate with online. You can obtain parental controls from your Internet service provider, local computer or retail store, or your Web browser. Research Internet providers and the types of parental locks and safeguards available for children before you make a commitment.

Internet service providers offer some parental control options. You can also purchase "blocking and filtering" software from a computer or retail store, but you have to install those programs on the computer yourself.

Some Web browsers use rating systems where Web sites have to "rate" the content on their site. Browsers can be configured to only allow your child to visit sites rated appropriate for them. If you use any type of parental control, make sure you understand how the software or program works. While it's an added protection, no parental control can block everything you deem inappropriate for your child.