The internet can be a fun as well as educational place for our children to explore, be creative within, and find answers to all their curiosities but it can also be a dangerous place as all parents know. With Dateline catching predators on a regular basis and news stories almost daily being reported about cyberbullying, crazy teen videos, and other things as parents we really do not want to think about it can also be a dangerous place.

There are laws that protect our children as they spend time online but since the world wide web is a global environment this does not always protect them. Since many users also remain anonymous or create false identities this only complicates the issue of protecting our children. Parents should not depend solely on these laws and play an active role in their child’s use of the internet.

There are plenty of tools that parents can install on a computer that can limit where a child goes while they are online. Many internet service providers also offer additional tools so parents can also talk to them regarding their children’s safety while online. Both will give you the ability to not only control where your child goes while online but will also allow you to track their activities for a better idea of what they are doing online.

Of course the biggest tool to keeping your child safe online is to simply pay attention. Never allow children to access the internet from a computer in their room. Keep the computer in a family room and make sure you are with them while they are surfing the web. By being proactive to what your child is doing online as opposed to reactive you can better help them not only be safe on the internet but also enjoy it as well.

Julia Howard
www.amberalertgps.com
Creators of aagps child locator technology