Perhaps you'd like to buy a solution that you can use on your computer that will not allow them to look at objectionable sites, yet will allow them to freely browse.

Here's the bad news: filtering programs can't do the job by themselves. NentNanny and other applications like it search for certain words in the Web site your child is clicking on. Simple words like "belly" can be targets for blocking, causing frustration, while research on "breast cancer" may be impossible.

But programs like this fail when trying to filter objectionable photo sites that have no objectionable words. So, how do I know this? I am sad to say that my teenage son enlightened me. Using Google Images, he searched for objectionable sites and found them, even though the filtering program was on.

The software could not have detected the objectionable photos, since NetNanny and similar software look for objectionable words. They are not able to evaluate pictures.

So, how can you protect your child?

*Put the computers the kids use where YOU are in your home. Then monitor what they are doing.

*Only the adults should know the login password. The kids will have to have permission to get on.

*Insist that your kids log off when they finish. As a result, they will need an adult to input the password the next time they want on.

*Use filtering software. It may help.

*Kids should be told what you expect from them, and the consequences of disobedience.

*Unplug the Internet cables if the child doens't need to access the Internet for his task.

*Give younger kids your own email address to use. This protects them from objectionable spam. Give teens an email address, but instruct them to give it out only to people they know personally.

Following these precautions will help you keep your kids safe, and will teach your teenagers good habits for avoiding temptations.