they're probably using computers right in school and the high schools and most libraries have computers online with services that the kids know how to use. I agree children should be watched but they need to be *warned* too. We've always had our computer in a central room here in my family room and so I am here but as they got older I didn't exactly watch right over their shoulder. Where we live we've a chat room set up for our high school kids & friends of theirs who are invited I believe that was originally on IRC anyway the kids who have parents watching over their shoulder use ancronims (sp?) and they speak so one can hardly make out what their talking about when speaking to friends. ie brb = be right back, afk away from keyboard, pitr = parents in the room, prw = parents are watching etc. These are the ones I remember and know but they ve done this with all vocabulary and so mom could be watching right over their shoulder and not have a clue as to what is really being said and they all know that a parent is over a kids should because they tell each other. Of course they then clean up the talk in the room until the pig =parent is gone. Then they let loose once again.
When we hold on too tight to a kid because we're trying to protect them some times we do more damage because they'll start to take offense. Did you see the looks on those boys faces yesterday? They will come up with online identities that she'll never find on that computer now and will be shut out of any info they would have given if she just *talked to her kids*. If you want to "know what's going on" you want to ask them and tell them why you're asking! "Look do you give out your number online to friends because there's pervs out there pretending to be kids". Kids are not stupid and they hear what their parents are saying a lot more than we all think they do. What parents need to do is *talk to their kids* and then listen too! If you "trick them" to find out and do it in a decitful way they will not TRUST you any more to tell you stuff. They need to know why you're doing what you're doing and they need toknow what the score is when it comes to these preditors. or you'll have to be THERE no matter where they are. A preditor can & will find them at school, CHURCH, on the sports fields and in any hobby of their interest. Do you spend 24/7 with all 4 of your kids? Unless you are they're in danger of a perv.
