The Internet has also made it possible for kids and their friends to interact online instead of tying up the phone for hours at a time, and the many social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook, and Whyville have become after school and weekend gathering places for kids of all ages. They can hook up with other kids whom they might never have had a chance to meet in person, sharing their common interests and making new friends.

But even if your kids don't have the time to spend at social networking sites, they can still communicate online through Email. Email has become the number one means of communication for all Internet users, and we certainly wouldn't want to give up the conveniences of being able to correspond instantly and to keep our correspondence stored online. But email is not without its risks, and it has given strangers easier access than ever to your children.

We have all learned through experience that the anonymity provided by the Internet has made it a favorite stalking ground for predators. Your child may unwittingly be providing their personal information and photos to a sexual predator just a few miles away, while thinking he or she is corresponding with another kid halfway across the world.

This is an extremely scary situation and idea to think about, but it happens all the time. The more you know, the easier it is to ensure the safety of your children. If your child is getting strange emails or is conversing with someone online that you don't know, it might be worth checking out.

Begin by having a conversation with your kids about where and when they first encountered different people online. Be especially attentive if you know your child has self-esteem issues, because predators are highly skilled at finding kids with low self-confidence and taking as much time as they need to build a sense of trust in those kids. They then take advantage of that trust in the most unimaginable ways.

But there are now, thanks to the Internet, ways in which you can fight back and protect your child before tragedy strikes. Thanks to several Internet websites, parents can now learn the identities of people who are emailing their kids, and the only think you need to use these sites is their email addresses.

After logging in to one of these websites and typing the email address into the search box, you'll be given not only the identity, but also the address and phone number of the person who sent it. You will also be given access to other important background information on this person, including Federal or state arrest records and criminal convictions, and will be informed if the individual is a sex offender.

Your role as a parent is both the most difficult and most rewarding one you will ever play. By taking responsibility for your kids' safety on the Internet, you will be going a very long way toward keeping them safe in your own home!