For parents who are worried their hands-off approach to supervising their childs online activities lacks the energy they once had, I thought offering this 4-step plan would be just the jumpstart theyd need. So lets get right to it!

Step 1 - Dont set restrictions on what sites your child can and cannot visit.

Yep, the skys the limit! Whatever site they can get their hands on will contribute to shaping their minds leaving less work for you. There are what, a gazillion web pages out there? How are you supposed to keep track of them all anyway?

There are plenty of sites out there that will do the parenting for you -- they wont exactly claim that theyre in the surrogate parent business, mind you, but theyre out there and are eager to help. So act now, by...well, not acting.

Oh, and who among us parents doesnt dread the awful "birds and the bees" talk? No worries! Theres plenty of free online porn for the taking. And its so easy to find help, too. By letting them exchange ideas and photos with "12-year-old Pat" (who is really a 50-year-old man) they could soon teach you things you never even thought about. Just think of the time youll save!

Step 2 - Keep your superpower a secret.

Everyone has some sort of special talent. Some are capable of saying no to that second helping of pie. For others, their superpower is being able to program TiVo. Ah, but there are a great many like yourself who can render a computer to a smoking pile of ashes with but a mere look.

You didnt ask for this power. You dont even remember how it manifested. But you struggle with it everyday knowing that if you ever got into your kids computer that youd be the equivalent of a bull in a china shop. Besides, youve put a lot of money into their computer because it held the promise of lofty grades and even loftier salaries after they graduate. Why go mess things up by learning something about it? No, no -- dont divulge your secret lest you be captured and studied.

Step 3 - Let your kid have their own unsupervised blog.

Blogs have been so popular over the years and there are no signs of it slowing down. Give in to their freedom of expression by allowing them to tell all their visitors how old they are, what their cell number is, their likes and dislikes, maybe theyll even share where theyll be next weekend so they can meet the people theyve been chatting with online in person instead.

And dont forget the digital camera or web cam! Why limit themselves to just words when they can practice their provocative (or even explicit!) poses for anyone willing to review their work? Theres a built-in audience for such willing and able kids who could help them with their "creativity", so theres no threat of their efforts going unnoticed.

Step 4 - Remember that you should never interfere with their privacy.

Much to their dismay, scientists have yet to discover the exact moment when a kids privacy becomes impenetrable. With eyewitness reports saying its a gradual process, and others reporting it happens overnight, one wonders why science hasnt stopped such fruitless searching altogether. But thats okay, because if it was known, then it might dislodge some bad web parents out of their "ignorance-is-bliss" state of mind. So fear not -- their loss is your gain!

Traditional thinking once held that preserving a kids safety was more important than their privacy. But the "dont ask, dont have to worry" method of parenting seems to be gaining favor among parents who just dont have the time.

Heres a story that may be the boost you were looking for. A mother in Frisco, Texas announced that her 13-year-old daughter ran off with a 48-year-old man she met on MySpace (whom she thought was 16-years-old at the beginning of their online relationship). "I havent heard from her in over six months," she said. "It would have been nice if she left a note or something before she was taken -- I mean, before she left. But at least Im comforted by knowing that I never once asked anything about her private life. Im a parent and it just didnt seem right to go meddling in her private life." The daughter was not available for comment.

Okay, switching back to reality now. If you love your kid enough to protect them from strangers on the street, then you must love them enough to protect them from the strangers theyd meet online.

About the Author

Ken is enthusiastic about the Web. But with all the entertainment and education that it offers, theres quite a lot of danger that comes with it. Thats why he wants to share his knowledge with other families to ensure they have a fighting chance to protect themselves and their children from the dangers that await them online. More information can be found at Family WebWatch.