An Eyeopener

The tragic suicide of two teenage girls in Victoria has sent shock waves around the country. PM John Howard in reaction to the deaths urged parents "to be responsible for their children's behaviour". The girls, both 16 years old, apparently went out to shop last April 15 but failed to return home. After a week long search and a plea from one of the distressed fathers for the girls to come home came to an end when the bodies were found in Dandenong Ranges last Sunday, April 22.

The mother of one of the girls said that her only daughter loved listening to music and using the Internet. Both had MySpace accounts.

Having growing kids of my own who can spend an entire day in front of the computer if I allow them to, which I don't, I would think that seeing them in front of the PC is better than having them out of the house without any idea where they are or what they are doing. But do we actually know what they are doing in cyberspace?

In today's online issue of The Age, one of the grieving fathers issued a warning to parents to spend time with their kids and to monitor their use of the Internet.

In another story from the Herald Sun, a psychologist offers some advice to parents like me that we:

• become the world expert on our offspring; know where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing;
• take an interest in what our kids doing online and we should do so early on;
• should monitor and supervise not only what they are downloading but also what they are uploading; and
• should have an Internet family contract that will govern what the children can say and do online.

Except for the last item, my husband and I have been doing just that with our sons. Looks like it's time for me draw up a contract. The bottom line is very clear: monitor and supervise.

Please don't let the Internet babysit your children.