Teach your child not to talk to strangers not approved by you, or give out any personal information such as his or her real name, password, address, etc. Look for educational web sites. Offer your child optional games to play. If you give your child a choice, he or she will often choose a nonviolent game on their own. Monitor the amount of time your child spends with a given activity.
Children have to learn skills to develop independently, and also, how to work and play with others.
Help your child obtain a balance. Listen to what your children say regarding why they want to spend their time watching TV, playing video games, and cruising the internet. Children respond best when parents give well though out answers and explanations, which respect the child's individual differences, yet make the limits clear. Know the content of the shows, games, and chat rooms with which your children are involved. Explain to your children, or help them think about why you are opposed to any specific activity.