Children use computers for homework assignments, email, chatting, facebook, games, and a host of other reasons. The best way to protect your kids online? Talk to them. Research suggests that when children want important information, most rely on their parents. The following information has been gathered from www.onguardonline.gov to help you and your children be safe online.

Start early: After all, even toddlers see their parents use all kinds of devices. As soon as your child is using a computer, a cell phone or any mobile device, it's time to talk to them about online behavior, safety, and security. As a parent, you have the opportunity to talk to your kid about what's important before anyone else does. Kids look to their parents to help guide them.

Initiate conversations: Even if your kids are comfortable approaching you, don't wait for them to start the conversation. Use everyday opportunities to talk to your kids about being online. For instance, a TV program featuring a teen online or using a cell phone can tee up a discussion about what to do — or not — in similar circumstances. News stories about internet scams or cyberbullying, for example, also can help start a conversation with kids about their experiences and your expectations. Be upfront about your values and how they apply in an online context. Communicating your values clearly can help your kids make smarter and more thoughtful decisions when they face tricky situations.

Be patient: Resist the urge to rush through conversations with your kids. Most kids need to hear information repeated, in small doses, for it to sink in. If you keep talking with your kids, your patience and persistence will pay off in the long run.

Talk to your kids about online manners: Email, chat, IM, video calling and texting are fast and convenient ways to communicate. But the fundamentals — what we say, when we say it, and why we say it — are the same online and off. Common courtesy and common sense are important parts of all communication, regardless of where and how it takes place. Don’t say something online you wouldn’t say face-to-face.

• Politeness counts . You teach your kids to be polite offline; talk to them about being courteous online as well. Texting may seem fast and impersonal, yet courtesies like "pls" and "ty" (for please and thank you) are common text terms.
• Tone it down . Using all caps, long rows of exclamation points, or large bolded fonts are the online equivalent of yelling. Most people don't appreciate a rant.
• Cc: and Reply all: with care . Suggest that your kids resist the temptation to send a message to everyone on their contact list.
• Avoid chain letters . Most chain letters or emails are nuisances at best, and scams at worst. Many carry viruses or spyware. Ask your kids not to open or forward them.

Ask your kids who they're in touch with online: Just as you want to know who your kids' friends are offline, it's a good idea to know who they're talking to online.

Talk to your kids about using strong email passwords and protecting them: The longer the password, the harder it is to crack. Personal information, your login name, common words, or adjacent keys on the keyboard are not safe passwords. Kids can protect their passwords by not sharing them with anyone, including their friends. Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords are examples of information to keep private.

Check out www.aap.org (American Academy of Pediatrics) and www.onlineonguard.org for more information regarding internet safety or contact me with questions.

Living for Him, Collette Christoffers, Parish Nurse