Kids shopping away on the internet.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Cyberactivities of children - Brief article

While the Internet is an essential tool for most families, a number of parents do not have the time or expertise to use many of the time-saving opportunities it offers. As a result, they often turn to the family members who are monopolizing the computer anyway--the kids.

According to a national survey by Stars for Kidz, a Ringwood, N.J.-based provider of market research on young consumers, today's tech-savvy children have redefined their "household chores" to include cyber-assistance for their families. Those eight to 14 years old are pressed into such service for two major reasons: 47% help because their parents are "clueless" online and 29% report they need to help mom online because of her harried schedule.

Some kids assist their mothers with predictable tasks such as comparison shopping. However...