Keeping your child safe from online predators is a concern for many parents. Passwords, blocked web pages, and several other security measures have been designed to block unwanted web sites online predators from finding children. Even with security measures, some online predators are able to get to children. When you connect your computer to the internet, you are allowing the world access to your home. Without proper protection, you and you're your children can be exposed to unsafe things. There are other harmful web sites like pornography and online gaming web sites that can become addicting to children. The internet is a tool used to help children gain valuable information, but it can be harmful. By taking proper measures, you can teach your child internet safety. Here are some simple ways to practice internet safety in your home:

Rule # 1 - Be upfront with your children about the internet. Let them know the rules of using the internet. Talk about the appropriate web sites that are allowed and ask your children what web sites they are interested in. Explain to them that they cannot give out their personal information to anyone without your consent and let them know that they cannot purchase things on the internet without your consent. Once you come to an agreement with your children, they will know that they are allowed to do on the internet and the web sites they are allowed to open. When you talk to your children before they start using the internet, they will understand what to look out for. It will be easier to trust them when they use the internet and you won't need to keep track of their internet activities behind their back.

Rule # 2 - Talk to your children about the web sites they are visiting. If you are concerned about online networking web sites, talk to your child. Take some time to really find out about the web site before you talk to your child. If you understand more about the web sites your children visit, it will be easier to trust them on the internet. Teach your children that they should come to you if any inappropriate material appears onscreen. Your children should understand how to come to you for advice and you can explain the unsuitable material and block those web sites from your computer.

Rule # 3 - Establish family passwords. Although it may be nice for your child to have some privacy, they should understand that the computer and the internet is one place that is shared with the family. Establish one password and have all of your children use it when they are on the internet. This way if they set up accounts with Facebook and MySpace, you can still access them if you suspect something is wrong.

If you teach your children how to use the internet, the possibility of having trouble will be less and you can feel safe knowing that your children understand the benefits and dangers of the internet. If parents show their children that they trust them and they have a positive attitude about the internet, children are less likely to sneak around their parents back while using the internet.

Always place the computer in an open area of the home. Studies have found that children get into trouble with the internet when it is placed in their room or in a private area. Pick a place in your home where you can keep an eye on your child when they are on the computer. If your child feels like you are watching them, they will not go to inappropriate web sites.

Children like to use the internet to meet new friends in chat rooms and forums. In order to help your child understand the positives and dangers of chat rooms and forums, you need to participate in them. Once you learn about them, you will be able to teach your child about them and give them some guidance. It takes time to use the internet and to figure out new web sites. Generally, females tend to use chat rooms, educational web sites and forums, and males tend to use chat rooms and online gaming web sites. A simple way to limit your child's time on gaming sites and chatting sites is to create an internet usage agreement. Make the rules clear to each child as to what times they are able to use the internet. Always make sure this is a time when you are in the room or in an area where you can check-in on their internet activities.

Discuss the importance of approaching chat rooms and forums with caution. Let your child know that they are not to give out any of their personal information to anyone on the internet. Talk to them about online predators and explain that they are people that are trying to trick them. Some online predators pretend to be other children so they can befriend children and exploit them. Tell your child to contact you immediately if someone they do not know contacts them online. You also need to explain to your child that they are not to have a face-to-face meeting with someone from the internet without your consent.

If you are worried about internet safety, you can look at the web sites your child has visited by clicking the "history" tab. Remember that some web sites could be pop-ups and your child may not have even visited the site. Check your internet settings to make sure you have a high-level of protection from pop-ups and downloads. Another way to practice internet safety is to save all of the suitable web sites in the "favorites" tab. This way your child will simply have to click on the list of appropriate web sites and they will not need to type in the name on the browser.

Sit down with your child and show them web sites that are interesting, fun, and educational. If they are working on a homework project, show them how the internet can help them find the information they need. Encourage your child to use the internet, but to approach the information they receive with caution. Some information on the internet is not true and if they are using it as a homework resource, they need to be able to find information that is factual. Show them how to look for the information source and how to determine if the information is valid.

Internet safety also comes by limiting your child's exposure to the internet. By establishing a computer time frame, you will be able to make sure your child engages in other activities besides the internet. For children under age 7, limit their exposure to the internet for an hour or less. For older children, only allow them to use the internet for 1-2 hours. Encourage your child to participate in other activities, as this helps to improve their cognitive development. Children that are shy tend to use the computer as a way to meet friends and associate with other people. If your child is already shy and uncomfortable in social situations, do not allow them to make the computer their friend. Set time limits on their exposure to the internet. Children that withdraw to the internet often have struggles with social situations into adolescence and adulthood.

Install filters and monitor software on your computer to protect your home from being invaded by online predators, pornographic, violent, or offensive material. The filtering programs will be able to identify and protect your children from encountering inappropriate web sites. The filter programs do not always block the inappropriate web sites, as they are primarily focused on the larger web sites. Hundreds of new web sites are being added to the internet each week, making it hard for the filtering software to keep up. The filtering programs are easy to get around and most children understand how to get around them by age 10.

Many families have begun using monitoring software to restrict children's access from certain web sites. The only web sites children are able to access are those that are added to the list by the parents or the software administrators. These programs are effective at blocking children from chat rooms and forums that are dangerous. Parents can easily control children's access to online gaming web sites and shopping web sites. Several companies use monitoring software programs to stop their employees from visiting web sites that are not work-related.

Another rule of internet safety is to teach your child about file sharing. Tell them not to download anything from the internet without consulting you first. You also need to explain to them that sharing music over the internet is illegal. Online file-sharing programs also give online predator's access to your personal files and they can plant viruses on your computer and steal your financial and personal information. Stalkers often use file sharing programs as a way to gain access to their victim's personal life. Generally these file-sharing programs are called `peer-to-peer' programs. They are dangerous and you need to explain the dangers of them to your children.