How many hours does your child spend on the Internet? Consider taking these steps recommended by ikeepsafe.org, netsafekids.com and many others including the FBI.

Establish rules, even contracts, for using the Internet.
- How long and under what circumstances can your child use the Internet?
- What content is allowed? Off-limits?
- What kind of messaging is permitted? E-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, blogs, wikis?
- What happens if the rules are broken?
Teach your child important safety guidelines such as:
- Keep personal information protected. Never give your real name, address, phone number, birth date, the name of your school, or a picture of yourself to anyone you meet online.
- Do not meet in person with anyone you have met on the Internet.
- Tell a parent, teacher, or trusted adult if you feel uncomfortable about anything
you see on a computer.
Keep the computer in a common room in the house and position the monitor so it is available for public viewing.
Use blocking software and filtering programs, but do not rely on them as your only
line of defense. (ContentProtect, CYBERsitter and NetNanny).
Predators often use chat rooms to contact children. Teach children that people online are not always who they say they are.
If you want to read more about Internet safety visit: