• Keep the computer(s) in a high traffic area of the home, not in the child's bedroom.
• Restrict the time they spend online, and restrict the web sites and chat clients that they can use.
• Show an interest in what they are doing online, and have at least a basic knowledge of how to use the sites that they access
• Impress upon them how critical it is that they never - NEVER - give out personal information to people online. (what school they go to, their full name, phone number, picture, etc.)
• Educate yourself about the real dangers that our kids face online, and especially in chat rooms, and keep an honest, open dialog with your child about those dangers.
• If your child tells you about a disturbing experience online, don't blame your child. Instead, listen to him/her and talk about how to safely and appropriately deal with that situation, and any similar situation that may arise in the future.
• If your child does receive inappropriate / obscene messages from someone, encourage your child to tell you about that.
• To report obscene or threatening messages or e-mails, you can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 or go to - http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/
• Do not rely solely on parental control software programs to monitor your children. That job belongs to you. Kids often know how to get around those programs.
• Remember that kids often do not tell their parents about inappropriate sexual behavior or propositions they receive online, because they're afraid of losing their computer priviledges. - Create a safe environment for your children, so that they know they can come to you with issues like that, without fear.
  
  
  

State Sex Offender Registries

Internet Slang - Translating internet slang and acronyms

Online Safety and Parental Control Links

i-SAFE America

http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/

http://www.watchright.com/

http://www.safekids.com/

http://www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm

http://www.safekids.com/parent_guidelines.htm

http://www.systracker.com/

http://www.indianchild.com/internet_safety_fun%20to%20learn.ht

http://www.software4parents.com

http://www.cyberpatrol.com/

http://www.khalsaweb.com/internetarticles/childsafety.htm

http://www.icra.org/_en/parents/

http://www.5star-shareware.com/Internet/ParentalControl/cybersitter.html

http://www.cyber-snoop.com/

http://kids.getnetwise.org/tools/index.php

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs21-children.htm

Information for Children

http://www.earthlink.net/home/safetytips/fiftyplus_tips/

http://www.safekids.com/kidsrules.htm

http://www.fema.gov/kids/on_safety.htm

http://www.dibdabdoo.com/safety.htm

Information about Sexual Predators On-Line

http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/

http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com

http://www.ago.state.nm.us/know/internetsafety/brochure/parents.htm

http://www.soc-um.org/

http://www.protectkids.com/

http://www.protectkids.com/dangers/onlinepred.htm

http://www.protectkids.com/kidsonline/reviews.html

http://www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/imchatips.htm

http://www.familyguidebook.com/pedophile.html

http://www.wiredkids.org/parents/index.html

http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/10kids.htm

http://www.familyguidebook.com/onlinesafety.html

http://www.dibdabdoo.com/safety.htm

http://www.chatmag.com/help/safety.html

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm

http://www.securitysoft.com/chatroom_dangers.html

http://www.mrblues.com/kidpred.html