So you have gone out and purchased yourself a computer. Now as an adult and a parent you are going to learn all you can about computers and just what is out there. Why because your in Cyberspace.Welcome, You have just logged on to a Pedophiles playground. Behind the computer sits a faceless friend, a 29 year old man or woman posing as a twelve year old child looking to befriend your lonely child who is using your computer. He or she thinks that because they are on the computer that they are untraceable and untouchable.

There are sexual predators that have developed techniques in attempting to attract children. As a parent it is your job to stop such contact by educating your child of the dangers. Pedophiles are surfing the internet 24 hours a day looking for under age prey and they don't start out with sexual comments. Instead a pedophile will work their way into your child's life by befriending the child. They want to become someone that your child can trust. These predators are perfect at manipulation and they know just what buttons to push. Any time a child can log on to a chat program like I.C.Q or AOL and be bombarded with messages from grown men and women wanting to chat. After a form of trust is established between the child and adult, they will start with compliments, they might offer them gifts, offer to call them and be a sentimental caring friend. You should always be tuned into any negative behavior in your child.

At one point the pedophile will test the situation by sending your child explicated images or engage in sexual conversation to see how they respond. After some time they will arrange a meeting with your child. Often times the child will feel they have fallen in love with this individual. Internet Sex Crimes are On the Rise. Last year in the United States, the initiative prosecuted 865 subjects and shut down 2,638 child pornography Web sites, according to the FBI. Jan 7th 2005 in Brandon Manitoba police were going from school to school, warning parents and children about a sexual predator who has infiltrated the Internet chat contact lists of several local children. Read about the growing number of internet sex crimes on the rise at http://www.primetimecrime.com.

Don't say that it can't happen to your child. If you have children it is your right to protect them. If they were going to a friend's house you would want to no where their friend lived, who the friend was and when they would be home. If you are a wise parent you have a list of your children's friends numbers in a book, therefore the internet should be no different. As a parent it is your obligation to know who your child is talking to. Talk to your children about their internet list just as you would about their offline friends. Find out how much your child knows about the people that they are chatting with.

If you have children online how do you protect them? For one a computer connected to the internet does not belong in your child's bedroom. This is like inviting a stranger into their room. Would you let a stranger come to your door and openly invite them to see your child's room? As parents we need to educate our children that a 12-year-old boy could actually be a 29-year-old man or a 55-year-old woman. Make sure your children do not revile anything about themselves such as

Copyright © Rose DesRochers

About Rose: Rose is a published author from Canada Ontario and is also the founder of http://www.todays-woman.net a community for men and women over 18, where writers/poets/columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry. Check out Rose's first poetry book "She is like the wind" and purchase poetry that is sure to be a world of emotion on a canvas that is her soul.