Teach Cybersafety

Nearly one in ten young users of the Internet report online harassment, a 50 percent increase since 2000. Now for the good news . . .

The majority of kids who spend time online are not harassed. And if they are, most are not upset by it. But for about two in five of those children, the harassment causes distress, which may lead to depression and other problems. So even if your children seem safe, teach them how to navigate their virtual neighborhood with a watchful eye.

Your children will grow up using the Internet, so adjust your guidance as their skills allow them to explore the online world with increasing freedom. For instance, older kids are more likely than the average 10-year-old to enjoy chat rooms and blogging, so they need to learn what's appropriate rambling and what isn't. If cyberbullying does happen, don't restrict Internet access -- that often leads children to keep incidents to themselves. Instead, spend some time teaching your kids how to stay safe on the information highway with simple lessons like these.

• Don't be a bully. Kids who bully others are more likely to be bullied themselves. Remind your children that following this golden rule is as important online as it is at school or anywhere else.
• Don't spread rumors or unkind gossip. About half of online harassment incidents involve posting comments about a person or sending others messages about him or her.
• Be polite but savvy. Talk to your children about how to communicate appropriately online and about the importance of not posting personal information (including photos) or sending it to anyone who asks.
• Know when to fold 'em. If your children feel harassed by anyone -- sometimes the harassers are adults rather than peers -- or are the target of sexual advances, tell them to simply log off. Teach them to avoid chat rooms that aren't monitored by an adult, and make sure they know how to block e-mail addresses and delete someone from a buddy list.