Keeping kids safe on the Internet can be difficult.

Just when you think they are safe on the Internet, something else pops up. Setting parental restrictions on the child’s computer is helpful. However, it is important to use tools and filters to help keep improper and objectionable sites from your kids. You can start by using the filters your Internet service provider (ISPs) has to offer for keeping kids safe.

Keeping your children safe, some things to consider:

• Photo sharing. Instead of a photo, have your child post a cartoon character. There are a great many sites with free or lost cost graphics.
  
  
• Personal information. Instruct your child not to give actual locations or addresses. While “I am in grade school” may be o.k. “I am in the 6th grade at “Hoover Jr. High School” is not.
  
  
• Child may fib about age. It may seem cool to a child to increase his or her age, it can be very dangerous. Predators often look for older children who look younger than they are.
  
  
• Answering e-mails. This can be tricky. If the child does not recognize a name, he should not open the e-mail. If he does open an e-mail from a stranger, he should not answer. Teach child to notify you in such cases.
  
  
• Group personal sites. If children are allowed to use these sites, they should be monitored very carefully by a parent. A link with a friendly sounding name can hold unacceptable material.
  
  
• Parental Snooping. Explain the realities of ‘surfing the net’, being online, and posting in groups. Tell your children that you will be checking their sites from time-to-time to make sure they are safe. Even if you don’t it will keep children on their toes.
  

Sites Concerning Cyber Safety:

The McGruff Organization has a brightly colored cyber safety poster that you can print and post near a child’s computer http://www.mcgruffspo.com/cybersafetysat.html. It also offers youngsters good advice concerning cyber bully bullies. http://www.mcgruff.org/advice/cyberbullies.php

Cyber Angles was founded in 1995 as the first cyber-neighborhood watch and is one of the oldest in online safety education. http://www.cyberangels.org/

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children See the cyber tips. Just click on 'CyberTipline' at http://www.missingkids.com/

A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety is an Federal Bureau of Investigations site. Read its parent's guide.
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm

See Safe Surf If you or your child has a personal or business web site, you may qualify for a “Safe Surf” logo for your family safe site.
http://www.safesurf.com

Enough Is Enough Making the internet safer for children and families. Protecting children and families from the dangers of sexual predators and pornography. http://www.enough.org/

Control Your TV This is the cable industry's contribution to parents' concerns about indecency and violence, etc.
http://www.controlyourtv.org/

When it comes to cyber-safty for children, parents must be ever vigilent. See monitering filter ratings from ConsumerReports.org. This group does not accept advertising.

If you can get your child interested in their own games, etc., they may be less likely to go online looking to entertainment. See what Amazon has to offer: children's software .