The cost of personal computers has dropped dramatically in the past year. Some schools and nonprofit organizations offer computers to families that can' t afford them at little or no cost. Parents should check first with their school district and then with nonprofit groups. Some companies even offer free access that is subsidized by advertisements. If you can' t afford to buy a computer and Net access, most public libraries offer free use of computers.
Some schools also offer use of their computers after regular hours.
If you have a home computer, don' t put it in your child' s room. Place the computer in an area where you can watch what your child is doing on it. Consider getting a computer program that blocks access to pornographic Web sites. These programs, however, are not fail-safe, so it' s still important for parents to monitor their children' s computer activities. Ask administrators at your child' s school district if they have their own technology standards for students.