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General Guidelines for Protecting Your Child Online Print
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When most of today's thirty-something parents were growing up, the worse thing that they had to worry about was being inside when the streetlights came on.  Those were the days of fresh air, plenty of exercise, and good clean fun.  When the first desktop computers were introduced, they were little more than a keyboard/processor that had to be connected to a standard television set.  And just to hear a single musical line of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” required 10 minutes BASIC programming.

It seems that overnight the sophistication and complexity of computers virtually quadrupled.  And then there was the Internet.  The great thing about the Internet is that it offers access to virtually an unlimited amount of information.  Overall, the online experience for your child can be both educational and rewarding.  But as it seems with most good things, there is a dark side to the online world as well.  And it is up to you to protect your child while he was she is browsing the Internet.

One of the first things that you can do as a parent is to learn more about the Internet.  Just as you would show interest in your child's school work or extracurricular activities, you should show the same enthusiasm for monitoring your child's online activities.  If the Internet seems foreign to you, shake hands and make introductions.

Whenever your child is online, make it your business to spend time online with your child, whether it is at the library, at home, or elsewhere.  This is one of the best things that you can do to help ensure the safety of your child online.

Just as you keep current with today's news, you should also keep informed about what is going on on the Internet.  This means learning about parental control tools and software that will help you monitor what your child can and cannot do while online.

You are your child's best advocate.  If you notice materials or practices that do not align with your own morals and philosophies, it is your responsibility to contact your Internet provider or either the company who is providing the offensive material.  In this way, you have a firsthand opportunity to shape your child's online experiences.
 
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