Your computer or your teen's laptop should always be in the open, preferably in the family room, where it can be seen by anybody and everybody. This dramatically cuts down on the chance that your child will go somewhere he or she shouldn't. You can purchase software that will allow you to either monitor your kids' online activities, block access to certain websites, or a combination of the two. Programs such as NetNanny or CyberPatrol have been popular in recent years Cheap Adam Henrique Hat , while the more recent WebWatcher is gaining ground. WebWatcher is popular because it allows the parent to remain undetected while monitoring chat conversations, e-mail keystrokes, every webpage visited, and can even take screenshots of their online activity.
Monitor cell phone activity. Text messages can be powerful evidence as to whether or not your teen is talking to someone they shouldn't be or engaging in inappropriate conversation.
When your kids go out, know who they are with and where they are going, as well as establishing an understood time for them to be home. You can also install GPS tracking technology on their cell phones Cheap John Moore Hat , which allows you to instantly determine if they were where they said they would be.
If it is determined that your teen has been participating in questionable behavior, don't be afraid to take away cell phones, computers, or restrict their extracurricular activities. Make sure they understand that there are consequences for bad decisions, and the consequence of your punishment, while it may seem harsh Cheap Taylor Hall Hat , is infinitely preferable to what might have happened had you not intervened.
Case in point, I recently became aware of my 14 year old daughter's Skype discussions with her boyfriend. He was trying to coax her into sending him a topless photo (which she declined, but she also failed to immediately terminate the conversation). As a result, she lost all cell phone and computer rights indefinitely. She wasn't pleased, but I told her that this was much better than having done the picture which could have conceivably gone viral, circulating the internet forever. Internet photos have no shelf ing should be put online that you are not prepared to see out there from this moment forward.