Despite advances in software and efforts to make children more aware of the Web's potential harms, it's impossible to make the Internet 100 percent safe. Filtering solutions in no way guarantee that children will not access questionable sites and might even limit access to worthwhile information. What experts do agree on is that parents and educators can work together to make the Internet safer.

Awareness and common sense are what parents need to make their child's online time safer. Educators can promote Internet safety and reassure parents by providing them with accurate information they will need to make their children "street smart" on the information superhighway. Schools must take the initiative by informing parents of the importance of Internet safety and perhaps offering parent seminars and adult education classes on the subject.

Thanks to CIPA, schools will have two opportunities this fall to help promote safer Internet use at home: when they distribute their new Internet Safety Policy and again when they conduct the required public meeting. Here are some simple suggestions to share with parents:

* Keep the computer in a family room. Parents can better participate and monitor their child's activities, reinforcing the notion that there are no secrets on the computer.

* Consider purchasing filtering software. Programs such as NetNanny and Surfwatch can block access to known sites that contain inappropriate content for younger users. Newer versions of these programs might also limit the amount of time children can spend online and reduce access to chat rooms. However, these programs are not aware of every inappropriate site.

* Spend time with children online. Your children can help teach you how to use the Internet. See what their interests are and get to know what they do online.

* Eliminate children's personal profiles. Depending on your local Internet account, your child might have a personal profile online that might contain information that should not be posted. Be sure information such as last name, address, phone number, and school name are not listed. Parents can always contact their local provider by telephone to get assistance with this issue.

* Use parental controls to limit access. Many companies now enable parental controls to limit certain features such as instant messaging, Usenet newsgroups, or chat. Consult with your provider to see if these options are available.

* Consider making a parent-child online agreement. Children should understand very clearly the house rules for computer use. Parents can print a sample parent-child agreement entitled "My Rules for Online Safety," by Lawrence J. Magid, located online.

* Recognize a problem before it becomes one. Changes in behavior and online habits are one way parents can identify a potential problem. If your children are reluctant to use the computer in your presence or have new passwords and screen names, they may be trying to hide personal conversations. Monitor credit card bills, as many adult sites require credit card payments. Regularly scan your computer's hard drive for unknown personal files or photographs.

* Know what to do if a problem arises. If your child receives inappropriate e-mail or some similar problem occurs, save all relevant information (e-mails, images, files, etc.). Many local police departments have electronic crimes divisions and can use this information to identify those responsible. Preserving this material might make you uncomfortable, but authorities can usually trace such information using Internet protocol (IP) addresses, which identify the originator of the message. Above all, talk with your child about the incident and seek professional counseling if necessary. -- E.L.