Chapter 6. A Parents Toolkit

Chapter 6. A Parents' Toolkit

AT THE RISK OF seeming overly simplistic, the best way to protect your kids on MySpace or anywhere else is to talk with themnot only about risks, but also about the positive things they do online, what they do and don't like about social networking, and how you feel about it. Keep in mind they don't need us (or our credit cards) to use MySpace, but, as is usually the case in teenage lives, they need us as a sounding board.

It's important that your communication with your child is two-waylisten to them, be supportive, and keep an open mind. Whatever you do, don't overreact, and try to keep a sense of proportionality. In most cases, the first response to a problem shouldn't be to punish kids or even ban their use of MySpace or the Internet, but to discuss the issue to see whether there are solutions you can agree on.

Keeping kids safe online isn't about technology; it's about parenting. You know how to do that, regardless of how tech savvy you are (or aren't).