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How To Minimize The Chances Of An On-line Predator Victimizing Your Children

• There is no better way to help prevent your child from becoming a victim then by talking to them ahead of time about the dangers of the Internet and online chat rooms.
• Take interest in your childs online activity. Let them take you on a journey into their world online. Find quality games that they can enjoy before they feel the need to look on their own.
• It is vital that you are honest and upfront with your children about sexual victimization from the Internet.
  
• Avoid allowing your children to spend time on their own computers in their room or a secluded room in the house. Instead, provide a good “family” area for PC activity where it is harder for them to get into trouble in secret.
• Monitor your child’s activity online using some type of PC monitoring software. There are many different types available online. We recommend TattleTale. They have a free 30 day trial without any financial obligation.
• Use the parental controls provided by your ISP service and or blocking software. However, it is important that you never rely on any type of software program to protect your children. YOU are your child’s best defence agains predators.
• It is good to randomly check your child or younger teens email. Remember too that predators will also use snail-mail once they have the information they need to send it.
• Teach your children how to be responsible online. Show them how to properly conduct a search and prepare them with what to do if they should stumble upon the wrong type of website.
  
• Talk to your children’s teachers and find out how they access the Internet at school and the library. Ask who monitors their activity and if it is not possible to monitor them properly at school, you may want to prevent your child from accessing the Internet without adult supervision.
• Help your children understand that it is NEVER their fault should something bad happend to them online. It is important that they understand THEY are the victim and they will not be punished should they confess anything that they feel was wrong or improper, no matter who started the conversations or activity.

The following public service video really helps to stress the dangers of chat rooms and how easily the wrong information can be obtained from a predator.