How young is too young to let your kids start “surfing”? My son is 8, and I let him use the internet at his leisure, but I do keep tabs on what websites he’s visiting and what he’s learning on the internet. I don’t allow him to do the chatting thing unless it’s on a game that I am playing with him. I am afraid of him coming in contact with the wrong type of person. It’s almost gotten out of hand these days. Not only do parents have to worry about their children in the real world, we now have to worry about them in the virtual world. Cyber bullies are all over the internet, and they, along with weirdos, pedophiles and predators are the reason I don’t allow my son to chat or interact online with other people. Cyber bullies are the worst form of bully there is. They are basically cowards who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to ridicule and make fun of people. I guess putting others down makes them feel better about themselves, and it’s easier for them to say these things to people online because there is basically no fear of retribution. Anyway, I don’t want to veer off topic here. I personally have seen the positive effects that allowing my son to use the computer and internet have had, however, it must be in moderation. There are tons of fun educational programs, software, and websites that can keep your child entertained while also educating them. My son has taken a huge liking for youtube, and I have limited his time spent on youtube because I don’t feel he’s learning anything positive from it. I don’t mind him surfing most websites as long as they are family friendly. He also knows to ask for permission before heading to a website that he has never been to before or is unfamiliar with. How old are your kids, if you have any? What age do you think it’s appropriate to start letting them use the internet?