The Internet can be a powerful and useful tool to both children and their parents. Learning how to use a computer at a young age can also be advantageous to children. However, computers are not toys and the Internet is not a playground. They are “grown up” tools that do possess a danger to children if they aren’t supervised properly.

Does that mean your child should never come into contact with a computer? No, it just means you need to lay out guidelines for your child’s computer usage and monitor them while online. You never know what they’ll get into by accident if you’re not around to supervise.

By following a few simple safety tips, your children will be able to learn how to use the computer and Internet in a safe, secure way. Before you know it, they’ll know more about using a computer and the Internet than you do!

If you have a child under the age of 10, talk to them about computers and the Internet before they start their technological journey. Allow them to ask questions and try to answer them as best you can. Remember, information is knowledge and knowledge is power.

Don’t allow your children to use the computer and go online alone. You should always be supervising what they do. You wouldn’t allow them in the pool area without an adult present, would you? Consider the Internet one large, dangerous pool. An adult should be with them at all times.

Make sure you set rules for your child on his or her Internet use. Explain what sites they’re allowed to go to and bookmark them for easier access. You can also block sites you don’t want them to go to by using your computer’s parental controls. Also, don’t forget to enable the pop-up blocker so your children don’t have the misfortune of seeing anything inappropriate.

At a very early age you start warning your children about not speaking to strangers. Make sure they understand that those rules also apply to the Internet. Let them know they should not give information about themselves to anyone online-- especially contact information like their address or phone number.

Some educational sites ask children to provide personal information in order to access Web content and gear it towards their age group. Help your child create an online username on their favorite sites so they keep with your rule of not using their name or telling anyone information about themselves online. Two safe, fun sites to get your kids started online are www.scholastic.com and www.nick.com (the Nickelodeon website).