• Talk to them about sex from a very early age. They are being exposed to sexual images in various media so you need to establish an open and honest dialogue with them so they will come to you with their questions.
  
• If they stumble across pornography, remain calm. In many cases these sites pop up accidentally and are difficult to leave, which can be very upsetting for kids. Don't freak out or act accusingly - you want your kids to feel comfortable turning to you for help and advice when these incidents happen.
  
• Sit with them and make sure they are going to sites that you've chosen. There are thousands of wonderful kids' sites, but it takes a bit of work to locate them. Ask other parents, teachers or librarians for suggestions or use a kids' Web directory, like Yahooligans!.
  
• Make sure you know where you're going on the Web. Links on reputable sites are generally safe. It helps to bookmark favourite sites so you can get there quickly without having to type in an address. But be aware that porn operators often purchase expired Web addresses, including those for kids' sites, when the original sites cease to exist.
  
• Use kid-friendly search engines such as Ask Jeeves for Kids, or adult search engines that offer filtering, such as Google. Test the different search engines to see which ones give the best results.
  
• Disable Java and JavaScript in your browser preferences. This will prevent your children from getting caught in a cycle of pop-up pornographic windows.
  
• Investigate filtering technology. There are server-based filtering options offered through your ISP as well as computer-based filtering software that you can administer yourself. These technologies can be helpful - but keep in mind that they're not foolproof and are no substitutes for parental supervision.

For older kids and teens

• Set clear rules about what kind of sites your kids are not allowed to visit. Create an online agreement or contract, with their input, and make sure you establish and enforce the consequences of visiting such sites.
  
• Keep your computer in a highly visible area, never in a child's room. Older teens can have an Internet connection in their bedroom but you should still talk about their activities and have clear house rules about accessing pornography.
  
• Talk to your kids openly about sexuality and pornography. Direct them to good-quality Web sites that provide information for young people on sexuality and health. If the only information your kids are receiving about sexuality is from porn sites, you have a problem. Explore with them the differences between normal, healthy sexual expression and the exploitive and deviant activity that is so prevalent online.
  
• Discuss sexual messages in all media. Help your kids understand the impact of exploitive and degrading images of women and girls.
  
• Check to make sure that if your kids are using file-sharing software they are only downloading music files (MP3s). Many people use file-sharing networks to post pornographic images and videos.
  
• If you have concerns about your kids' online activities, talk with them. You can also monitor where they are going on the Internet by looking at the history, cookie and cache files on your computer. However, keep in mind that computer-savvy kids know how to erase their Internet tracks. Open, honest communication is always preferable to invading their privacy.