Create your own computer rules or use the Internet Safety Pledge. The pledge can be signed by adults and children and should be periodically reviewed.

Look into safeguarding programs or options your online service provider might offer. These may include monitoring or filtering capabilities.

Always read a web site’s privacy policy before giving any personal information. Also make sure that a web site offers a secure connection before giving credit-card information.

Web sites for children are not permitted to request personal information without a parent’s permission. Talk to children about what personal information is and why you should never give it to people online.

If children use chat or e-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they first “met” online.

Talk to children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat, or other communications. Report any such communication to local law enforcement. Do not delete the offensive or dangerous e-mail; turn off the monitor and contact local law enforcement.

Keep the computer in the family room or other open area of your home where there is adult supervision, not in your child’s bedroom.

Become informed about computers and the Internet. Learn to use the programs your child is using. Visit Netsmartz for additional information on Internet safety.

Let children show you what they can do online, and visit their favorite sites.

Have children use child-friendly search engines when completing homework.

Know who children are exchanging e-mail with, and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise. NetSmartz recommends limiting chat room access to child-friendly chat sites.

Be aware of any other computers your child may be using.

Internet accounts should be in the parent’s name with parents having the primary screen name, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices.

Children should not complete a profile for a service provider and children’s screen names should be nondescript so as not to identify that the user is a child.

Talk to children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Show them how to turn off the monitor and emphasize that it’s not their fault if they see something upsetting. Remind children to tell a trusted adult if they see something that bothers them online.

Consider using filtering or monitoring software for your computer. Filtering products are available that use whitelisting, which only allows a child access to a pre-approved list of sites.

Visit Netsmartz for web sites that provide information on filtering or blocking software. Filters are only one element of Internet safety, however. Education is a key part of prevention.

Report any obscene messages or images to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at 800-843-567.