(Main sources: F.B.I., SBC-CAP)

• Spend quality time with your children, so they won't depend on computer technology for recreation, communication, and companionship.

• Spend time with them on-line and learn about their favorite websites.

  One child internet protection web site says, "Letting children use the Internet unattended, particularly talking in chat rooms, is the equivalent of dropping them off in Central Park and saying, 'Go make some new friends.'"

• Monitor your child's computer use.

• Keep the computer in a public area of the house.

• Don't allow a child to give out personal information on-line, such as real name, address or phone number.

• Don't allow a child to meet someone face-to-face they have met on-line.

• Remember that people on-line may not be who they seem or say they are. Whatever you are told on-line may or may not be true.

• Use pornography-blocking software.

• Periodically check the web sites your children are visiting, look at files they are storing, and randomly check their e-mail.

• Instruct your child never to post pictures of themselves onto the internet or an on-line service to people they do not personally know.

• Never download pictures from an unknown source since they may contain sexually explicit images.

• Find out what safeguards are used at your child's school, library, friends houses, etc. since they could log on through computers there.