There's no denying that children have easy access to adult Web sites. Your children need to hear from you what is acceptable. Discuss how much time they can spend on the computer. Be sure they understand what sites they may visit. And don't forget to include consequences for broken rules.

Rules are good, but don't make the computer off-limits. A ban may do more harm than good. Here are five things to help parents:

1. Searching safely. Your child doesn't have to seek out pornographic images. The wrong words in a search engine can produce eye-popping results.

Search sites can filter out most adult-oriented content, if you know where to look. Three of the biggest use a technology called SafeSearch.

At Google's main page, click Preferences. Under SafeSearch Filtering, click "Use strict filtering." Click Save Preferences.

For MSN Search, click Settings. Under SafeSearch, select "Strict — Filter sexually explicit text and image results." Select Save.

At Yahoo's preference page (http://search.yahoo.com/preferences), select Edit next to SafeSearch and select next to "Filter out adult Web, video, and image search results — SafeSearch On." Click Save.

2. Filter programs. Filtering software can block graphic spam. And it is more resistant to tampering.

Safe Eyes (www.safebrowse.com; Windows and Mac, $50) offers minimal interference in searches. It can be adjusted for different age levels.

CyberPatrol (www.cyberpatrol.com, $40, Windows) has excellent filters. Logs will show where your children are going.

iShield (www.guardwareinc.com; Windows; $25) analyzes pictures and surrounding text for pornography. It also checks hidden data on a Web page. Several settings handle pornographic images. It will block a page, block offending images or display a warning.

3. Set limits. Other problem areas include chat rooms, instant messaging and peer-to-peer programs.

CYBERsitter (www.cybersitter.com; Windows; $40), iProtectYou (www.softforyou.com; Windows; $35) and Safe Eyes control which programs access the Internet.

They also allow you to set time limits. Limit online chats to the hours you are home. And, you can limit the amount of time online. Once that time is up, access is blocked. These programs also filter pornographic content.

4. Document everything. You never want to spy on your child, but it could be necessary. Children can fall into the wrong crowd, or their safety may be at risk.

Spector (www.spectorsoft.com; Windows and Mac; $70) takes snapshots of your computer's screen. It stores them in a hidden location. It also records all Web sites visited, each time a program is run, chat conversations, e-mail sent and received, and every keystroke.

5. Sign a contract. Finally, your best control will be through interaction with your children. I suggest you download my 10 Commandments for Kids Online (www.komando.com/kids). Sign it with them and post it near the computer.

Contact Kim Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.