5) Never allow your children to meet in person someone they have met online.

6) Limit online time. Just like television time.

7) Use parental control software. There are several software programs that will help to lock out adult Internet sites. Some programs include CyberPatrol, NetNanny, and SurfWatch.

8) There is a voluntary rating system for Internet sites that is being promoted by several consortiums. Much like movie ratings, it is hoped that the industry will support rating sites for violence and sexual content. If standardized ratings existed, parents could easily configure their parental-control software to bypass X-rated and unrated sites.

Here is a common sense approach to start with.