State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. informed parents about infor­mation his office has available to protect children from Internet sexual predators. "The Internet has become one of the main ways children socialize with their friends, but it is also used by sexual predators to attract their victims. Chil­dren

can really be putting themselves at risk if they are not careful about the types of information they give out on­line. This information will help par­ents protect their children from danger while on the Internet," said Senator Fuschillo, who is the father of three school-age children. The brochure, entitled "Protecting Our Children in the Internet Age," pro­vides helpful hints for parents to keep their kids safe and informs them how to spot the warning signs of an at-risk child.

Some of the safety tips offered in the brochure include:

•Keeping the computer in a fam­ily room rather than in the child's bedroom.

•Teaching children never to give out identifying information such as their home address, school name, or telephone number in a public message such as wall posts or chat rooms. •Getting to know the services your child uses. •Teaching children that people on-line may not be who they seem. •Setting reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use. Parents who would like a free copy of the brochure should call Senator Fuschillo's office at 882-0630.