Preventing your Kids from viewing Porn Sites

You are a parent and want to prevent your kids from viewing sexually explicit materials, sites relating to violence and other such bad stuff on the Internet. You have two options:

1. Develop a meaningful, strong relationship with your kids. You should be their trusted, very good friend. I believe this is the most important way, if not the only way, to protecting your kids from online hazards. It is not something you can do overnight. (You can't download and install a relationship with your kid instantly.)

Teach the kid what's appropriate and acceptable and what is not. Teach them the consequences of the bad stuff. Make sure they are aware of the predators on the net and train them to keep away.

Try being with the kid when they are online - if possible, at all times. Place the computer in a location visible to all members of the family.

If you are trying to prevent your kid from viewing inappropriate sites without providing moral support and vaules to them, you will be playing a loosing game of cat and mouse (or cop and thief) with your kids. How many computers does your kid have access to? At home, his friend's homes, schools, browsing centers (Internet cafe)... And don't forget the cellphones.

2. You can use technology to some extent - which I believe does not provide a great, meaningful solution. It can only be a backup to your parenting approach - a sort of a safety net.

Anyway, One best example I can think of are Norton Internet Security's Parental Control. It is part of Norton Add-on Pack available as an add-on to Norton Internet Security or Norton 360. Another option is CyberPatrol - 14 Days Trial Available, $40 / Year. Check this review also.

These filtering solutions are not very reliable either. They do allow access to some sites with inappropriate content. Some can be circumvented too.

Remember, you can use such tools to prevent your kid from watching inappropriate sites only if you are more computer savvy than your kid - a situation that is nowadays becoming unlikely.