RULES OF THE ROAD FOR KIDS ON THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY.

• Position: Brief Article

The Internet has opened up a world of information for anyone with a computer and a connection, including young children. It can serve as a powerful tool for kids in completing homework assignments and researching school projects. However, just as parents wouldn't send their offspring near a busy street without some safety rules, they also shouldn't send a child onto the information superhighway without some rules for the road.

The following are guidelines for parents to keep in mind when their child goes online. They were developed by the National Crime Prevention Council and provided by the National McGruff House Network and Children's World Learning Centers, a provider of early care and education.

Getting started. Explain to your offspring that, although they may be alone in a room using a computer, once logged on to the Internet, they are no longer alone. People skilled in using the Internet can find out who and where they are. They can even tap into information on your computer.

Set aside time to explore the Internet with youngsters. If they have some computer experience, let them take the lead. Visit areas of the World Wide Web that have special sites for children.

Controlling access. The best tool kids have for screening material found on the Internet is their own judgment. Teach children about some of the inappropriate material that can appear on the Internet so they know how to respond when they see it.

Choose a commercial online service that offers parental control features. These can block contact that is not clearly marked as appropriate for youngsters such as chat rooms, bulletin boards, news groups, and discussion groups.

Purchase blocking software and design your own safety system. Different packages can block sites by name, search for unacceptable words and block access to sites containing them, block entire categories of materials, and prevent children from giving out personal information.

Tell your children always to let you know immediately if they find something frightening or threatening on the Internet; never to give out their name...