Having watched my preschool-age daughter over the last couple of years take to using a computer with the surprised enthusiasm of a king penguin who's accidentally fallen into the mackerel tank, I am interested in resources to help me figure out ways to enable safe and responsible PC use. 

Parenting in the Information Age presents special trials; technologies change and trends develop far too rapidly.  We can't possibly know everything that's out there, or what the kids can be affected by.  Even though I work around computers daily, and have some background in information technology, I realize it's still tough for me to grasp all of the potential hazards my children could stumble upon.  For parents not as familiar with computing and use of the Internet, the challenge is all the greater.  Fortunately, my kids are young enough for me to get ahead of the game, and help is available.

For those seeking information on how to approach responsible computer use in the home, an informative article recently appeared on the MSN tech & gadgets website.  "How to Manage Kids and Computers," by Doug Cooley, offers good starter tips , including basic location advice, software and hardware pointers, and control options.  Links to other helpful resources are sprinkled through and appended, pointing to more information from sites such as PBS and CNET.

The window of innocence is closing faster than ever, and while computers and the Internet promise access to knowledge I did not have growing up, the dangers are many and increasingly scary.  Many of the resources addressing this topic stress a similar theme - being involved, talking to the kids and paying attention to their computer and online activities are the best defenses.