The internet is a terrific resource full of great information.  Unfortunately it is also a dangerous place full of bad sites and predators many of which would harm our children.  There are some basic steps you can follow to help keep your children safe while on the Internet.

• Only allow your children to use a computer located in a "Public" part of your home such as the Family Room.  You can occasionally glance over to see what they are doing without them feeling that their every move is being scrutinized.
• Ensure your search browser (e.g. Google, Yahoo etc.) has Safe Search enabled to block explicit content and images.
• There are a number of software packages available that can be installed on your computer to make the internet safer including NetNanny (www.netnanny.com) Cyber Patrol (www.cyberpatrol.com) and The Baby Sitter (http://www.softwarexpress.com).  These software packages can be configured in a variety of ways allowing varying levels of control over content and images.
• If your child participates in Instant Messaging or Chat sites, be aware of who your childs online friends are and what they are discussing.  If you choose to allow this at all, ensure they are talking with REAL friends from school or the community that they know outside the internet.  Many predators pretend to be children to create a relationship with your child through these sites.

Probably the most important thing you can do is to communicate with your child about safety and the internet.

Be Safe!