Children use the internet constantly in this day and age, both for fun and for school work.

The only trouble is, they are often light years ahead of their parents in terms of online know-how but blissfully unaware of the adults who might seek to take advantage of them and naïve about the quantity of thoroughly unsuitable content on the web.

There are some brilliant resources available on the internet, so don't let the thought of trouble make you discourage your children from using it but do take a look at our top tips to help you keep a check on your child’s online activities:

• Keep the computer in a family room, rather than a bedroom, where everyone can use it and you are more likely to keep an eye on how both the computer and any webcams or other equipment are being used.
• Learn about the internet so that you know how it works, and spend time with your children finding some interesting sites that they'll enjoy using.
• Get to know your children's on-line friends in the same way as you get to know their school friends. 
• Encourage them to keep up outside activities and not spend too much time on the internet. If they have some good friends at school or in a sports group or similar, they will be less dependent on internet friends.
• Talk to your internet service provider about filtering software to help block unsuitable sites. 
• Teach your children not to open emails or attachments from people they don't know. They could contain viruses or pornography.
• If you can talk openly with them about safety and encourage them to follow a few simple rules, they will feel happier about coming to you if anything does go wrong. Listen to any concerns they have but try not to be judgemental. If they tell you anything that worries you, contact the police for advice.
• There are potential risks in communicating with people that you don’t know, and unfortunately some children have been hurt after having gone to meet the ‘friends’ they have made online. Adults with a sexual interest in children have used chatrooms and other interactive areas online to make contact with and befriend children, and then ‘groomed’ them, ie persuaded and manipulated them to meet up where they have been abused.
• There have also been cases of children being bullied or threatened online in chat environments.

It is important that your children know how to stay in control online. The SMART rules will enable children to be safe and be smart online.

Safe
Keep safe by being careful not to give out your personal information such as your name, e-mail, home address or school name, phone number to people online.

Meeting
Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. If you feel that you ‘have to’ meet, then for your own safety you must tell you parent or carer and take them with you – at least on the first visit.

Accepting
Accepting emails, messages on IM or opening files, pictures or texts from people you don’t really know or trust can lead to problems – they may contain viruses which can wreck your computer, or nasty messages and images.

Reliable
Remember that people online may not be who they say they are, and so online ‘friends’ are really strangers, no matter how many times you have chatted with them, unless you know and trust them in the ‘offline world.’

Tell
Tell your parent or carer if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried.