​Communicate with your child. Be involved in your child's activities, know their friends, hobbies, and interests.

 

Take time to teach your children to use the Internet responsibly.

 

Make sure the computer is in a high traffic area.

 

Familiarize yourself with the computer, programs, and the method that your child uses to communicate online.

 

When possible, use the Internet with your children.

 

Make sure you know your children's logon passwords - and no one else does.

 

Know your children's friends - and their parents. Find out what rules/safeguards other parents have at homes where your child might be spending time online.

 

Children's screennames should be nondescript so as not to identify that the user is a child -- no cute names, school names, or names with year of birth.​

 

It's even safer for girls to use a gender-neutral or boy's name, since most predators are on the lookout for young girls.

 

Use child-friendly search engines.

 

Find out who children are exchanging E-mail with, and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise.​

 

Be aware of any other computers or Internet access available to your child. 

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