Top Tips for Parents (from Microsoft)
Create a PACT to keep your children safe online
· Private Information- Teach your children what personal information is and that they shouldn’t share it online with people they don’t know. Talk to them about keeping their information and photos private using privacy settings on sites such as Bebo and Facebook
· A Central Place - Keep your PC in an open space where possible to encourage communication with regards to who your children are chatting to online and the programmes they are using
· Communication- Talk to your children about who they are chatting to online in the same way you would talk about their real world friend. Discuss their list of contacts on tools such as Messenger, Facebook and Bebo and check they know all those they have accepted as friends
· Teach Yourself- Consider using the same technology so you can understand how it works.
Utilise Parental Controls where available. (Information on Parental Controls for Microsoft products can be found at www.microsoft.com/protect/family) These can allow you to control the amount of time your children are online, the sites they can access and the people they can talk to. These are available for many products including Windows 7. Vista, Xbox and Live. 
