What may be the world's toughest job - good parenting - may have
become just a tiny bit easier as of last week. It's not that
anyone discovered a simple way to enforce bedtimes or to get
kids to like broccoli. But parents and other caregivers did gain
access to powerful new tools that can help them keep children
safe online. Online safety is a real worry for families these
days. The Internet opens a wide world of learning opportunities
for young people, but it also can open the door to inappropriate
words and images - and to contact with unsavory individuals.
Studies of the online habits of children have found that many
take troubling risks, such as divulging personal information to
strangers. Yet, short of hovering nearby all the time, it can be
difficult to supervise and limit children?s Internet use very
effectively. That?s changing with last week?s release of Windows
Vista, the next-generation operating system for personal
computers. Along with many other innovative improvements that
make it easier to fin