Tip #1
Go online together. Take the time to see what your kids are doing online and what their interests are. Have your kids "teach" you about the internet. Let them show you where they go and how they get there.

Tip #2
Teach kids to never give out their personal information to people they meet online especially in public places like chat rooms and bulletin boards. Be specific about what type of personal information your child should not give out such as real name, address, phone number, name of their school or places they go to visit or hang out. Do not assume your child knows what he or she should not say.

Tip #3
Instruct your child never to plan a face-to-face meeting alone with online acquaintances.

Tip #4
Tell your child not to respond when they receive offensive or dangerous email, chat, or other communications. If they receive something that makes them feel uncomfortable; they should immediatly leave the area and tell you about it. Reassure them that it is not their fault if they get an uncomfortable message but they do need to tell you.

Tip #5
Establish clear ground rules for Internet use for your kids. Decide whether or not to use parental control tools or protective software. Create a list of these rules and post them by the computer.

Tip #6
Place your computer in the family room or another open area of your home. Or use the computer together at a library, school, or community center.

Tip #7
Teach your child to never open or accept e-mails , files, links, or URLs from people they don't know or trust.

Tip #8
Teach your child to never give out their password -not even to friends.

Tip #9
Just like watching the TV, monitor how much time your child spends online. Excessive time online can alert you to a possible problem.

For more information about online safety visit GetNetWise. There you can learn about dangers kids face online based on age levels from 2-4 years to 14-17 years old. Topics cover risks from meeting someone online, loss of privacy, online fights, threats or law breaking, inappropriate material, creditable web sites, copyright infringements, etc.