Since the advent of the Internet, children have been able to expand their horizons beyond outdated encyclopedias and textbooks into new worlds. Now, kids can use the World Wide Web to play interactive educational games and learn about everything from puppy dogs to the Great Wall of China. But, due to the size of cyberspace and popular tools like instant messaging and social networking sites, children have become vulnerable targets for predators.

An estimated one in seven children ages 10-17 have been sexually solicited online. Fortunately, these solicitations easily can be avoided with the help of a parent. Here are a few ways parents can keep their kids safe while surfing the net:
•    Keep the family computer in a common area of the house where you can monitor your child’s Internet activities.
•    Invest in filtering software for your family’s computer.  This software enables parents to block their kids from visiting sites that are inappropriate.
•    Invest in monitoring software for your family’s computer. This software secretly records everything a child does on the computer, by taking screen shots of the monitor every few seconds.  That information is stored in an attachment and e-mailed to mom or dad for review.
•    Explain to your children that they should not place any personal information about themselves on the Internet. That includes their name, address, phone number, name of their school and school mascot. Children can be easily tracked down when this kind of personal and public information is shared.
•    Explain to your children the importance of not sharing their pictures on the Internet.
•    Maintain access to your child’s online account and randomly check his or her e-mail.

Parents also should watch for signs that their child may have fallen prey to an Internet predator:
•    Spending an unusually long amount of time on the Internet.
•    Using the Internet late at night when parents are asleep.
•    Losing interest in extracurricular activities.
•    Spending less time and energy on homework.
•    Minimizing the computer screen or turning off the computer when a family member walks into the room.
•    Exhibiting a short temper.
•    Using inappropriate language.

If your child has become a victim of an Internet predator, call local law enforcement or reporting the incident to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

For more information about safe Internet usage, visit capfund.org or call the Child Abuse Prevention Fund at (414) 266-6300.

Jennifer Hammel is director of the Child Abuse Prevention Fund, a special fund-raising initiative of Children's Hospital and Health System. To learn more, visit www.capfund.org. Children’s Hospital and Health System is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the health system’s flagship member, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. For more information visit www.chw.org.