• Talk to your child about online sexual victimization and potential online dangers.
• Keep your childs computer in an open area of your home, not in your childs bedroom. Do not allow your child to password or otherwise hide computer activity from you.
• Always maintain access to your child's online account and randomly check his/her e-mail; be up front with your child about your access and reasons why.
• Spend time with your children online; know your childs online friends and habits, and do not allow your child to post an online personal profile or otherwise give out identifying information such name, address, school name or phone number.
• Set rules for computer use for your children, discuss them and make sure that they are followed; teach them the responsible use of online resources.
• Watch the amount of time your children spend online. Excessive use, especially late at night, may indicate a problem.
• Find out what computer safeguards are utilized by your child's school, the public library, and at the homes of your child's friends.
• Instruct your children to never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met online.
• Review what is on your child's computer. If you don't know how, ask a friend, coworker, relative, or other knowledgeable person. Pornography or any kind of sexual communication can be a warning sign.
• Use Caller ID to determine who is calling your child, as well as who your child is calling.