Western-Star.com

I recently participated in an Internet safety program arranged by Brian Rice, author of "Family Safe Computers."

I applaud Rice for his efforts, but I know that many children and families do not fully appreciate the risks their children face as they sit at home on their computers. I use this analogy for the Internet — if the Internet is the "information super highway," it has a "gutter" on either side of it.

If you don't know where your child is on the Internet, they could be in that virtual "gutter," where people with bad motives ply their trades.

While many of us have discovered the benefits of the computer in our jobs and in our daily lives, so too have criminals discovered the Internet as a tool in their crimes, most notably in crimes against children. Where else can a sexual predator have access to so many curious, unsupervised children?

You can protect your children by supervising their on-line activities. Here are a few simple pointers to keep your children safe on the Internet:

• Learn about the Internet. This will enable you to monitor as well as understand what your child is doing.

• Keep your child's computer in a common area of the house while your child is young.

If your child is older, you may consider allowing them to keep the computer in their bedroom, but insist that the screen faces the door and don't allow them to click out of a screen if you come near.

• Invest in parental-control software. The software will send alerts to your computer if your child is engaging in risky conduct.

• Teach your child not to chat with strangers online and to never, ever agree to meet a stranger they have met online.

• Encourage your child to tell you if they are approached online or receive inappropriate online communications, including pop-ups. Often children do not tell because they are afraid they did something wrong.

• Monitor the games your child plays online and the chat rooms they visit.

• Review your child's profile on MySpace, Facebook or other social networking sites.

Make certain they do not post personal information that would lead a predator to them.

• Help your child choose an appropriate screen name and e-mail address.

• Remind your child that these rules also apply to cell phone usage.

With these cautions, your child can enjoy and learn through the Internet, while avoiding the "gutters" along the "information super highway."

Rachel A. Hutzel is the Warren County prosecutor.