I don't think a month has gone by without somebody asking me this question at work or at a family gathering. Without a doubt, this is a serious question that warrants an explanation and solution.

Kids today are much more computer savvy than we are, so I would not recommend a single resolution that involves tweaking Internet Explorer.

Below are suggestions that offer different levels of security.

#1) Change settings in Internet Explorer

In most cases whatever you click and save in Internet Explorer is a Google search away from your kids changing it back, but it might be your first line of defense. I am assuming you have a computer running Microsoft Windows with Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater.

Open Internet Explorer
Click "Tools"
Click "Internet Options..."
Click on "Content" tab
In the "Content Advisor" section click on "Enable..."

You are now in the Content Advisor. From here you can set your settings.

"Ratings" tab - Set rating levels for: language, nudity, sex and violence.
"Approved Sites" tab - Name sites that you will allow your children to always view or name web sites you never want your children to view, regardless of the site's rating.
"General" tab *Allow or disallow your child to see sites that are not rated. *Create a password - this is great for use with older children. You set a password, then if your child goes to a site they want to see, but it is a disallowed site, you can allow the site using the password. You will have the option to always allow the site or only allow it this one time. *View or modify the rating system

#2) Tweak your router's default settings

OK, this might sound a little high-tech and geeky for you, but it is easier than it sounds, and after you do this you can brag to your friends. If you have high speed internet access at home, odds are you have a router (Netgear, Linksys, Belkin, etc...). Look for the CD and information you wrote down when it was installed. You will enter an IP address into Internet Explorer, enter a username and password, and then see an interface similar to below. Click on the "Block Sites" link and start entering web sites you want blocked from reaching your children. Please be advised that this method will block web sites from reaching everybody in your house. Depending upon the make and model of your router, you might be able to restrict access to a specific computer within your house.

#3) Install Software

There is commercial software available designed specifically to keep your children safe while surfing the web. Blocking web sites as referenced in #2 is great if you know the web site you wish to block, but often you do not know the web site address until it is too late. In addition, times have changed and web sites are not the only item parents need to be worried about. With the explosion of social web sites (MySpace, Facebook, etc...), there are other items you may wish to control, such as instant messaging. Below are links to software designed specifically to restrict access to objectionable web sites, and will provide detailed logs for you to review.

NetNanny - netnanny.com
CyberSitter - cybersitter.com
Cyberpatrol - cyberpatrol.com

Please feel free to contact me with questions.

Good luck!

Jason

p.s. The solutions above can also be applied to keep a spouse or significant other away from sports web sites and shopping online!

Jason P. Levy
http://www.jasonlevy.com
http://www.jplwebdesign.com
internet marketer / web developer