Learn how software and practical parenting can keep your kids safe while they surf.

Editor's note: Today Detective Mike Sullivan, author of Safety Monitor: How to Protect Your Kids Online, is here with his tips for keeping your kids out of danger. He'll also show you where to find free online resources that can help.

When parents get a chance to take a step back from today's fast-paced world, many find their children spending an unlimited amount of unsupervised time in front of the computer. Parents must know how to guard their children while they surf the Net and protect opportunities to share in their children's lives. Here are some tips for keeping your kids safe.

  1. Keep computers in common areas of your home.
  2. Limit the amount of time your child uses the computer for games and the Internet.
  3. Talk with your child about the dangers of the Internet.
  4. Surf with your child and discover his or her interests.
  5. Educate yourself about the technology that keeps your child safe (i.e. filters and locks).
  6. Know what access your child has to chat rooms.
  7. Take an advanced computer class with your child.
  8. For young children, view software before purchasing to check for violence.
  9. Become familiar with the software that helps your child with school projects.
  10. Use the computer and software together.


Kid-friendly search engines
A handful of Web directories and search engines are available to filter Web content for kids. Here are a couple popular options.


Free Internet safety information
Parents who want to learn about online safety should visit these sites:


These parenting resources also have excellent information on the topic:

Literature
The following books are good online safety reference materials:
  • "Kids Online: Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace" by Donna Rice Hughes, with Pamela Campbell, August 1998
  • "Online Kids: A Young Surfer's Guide to Cyberspace" by Preston Gralla, January 1999


Diane Provo is a child-education expert.