The complexity of computing in general, and the Internet in particular, may seem so daunting that you could wind up feeling helpless to guide the online activities of your kids.

The good news, however, is that you don't have to be either a skilled engineer or a supergeek to be a great digital-age parent. Much of what you do to insure your family's online safety will evolve from their age and sophistication of your kids.

And, of course, it also depends on how important online safety is to you. So what are your options?

Reinforce to your kids that they should never set up dates with anyone they meet in chat rooms. Try some ultra-sophisticated, ultra-snoopy solutions like desktop software that tracks the online ventures of your child keystroke-by-keystroke, although many would consider that an invasion of your child's privacy.

Set the Web-surfing rules with family members, such as not sharing your name, address or other personal information over the Web. Also, your kids should understand they can--and should--talk to you when they run into anything troublesome during their Internet adventures.

Set up times when your kids can be on the Web. Sure, you can buy computer tools that monitor this. But a wall clock works just fine.

Your child may prefer to set up his/her Net-connected computer in the comfort of their bedroom. No way. Plunk it down in the living room, dining room or kitchen--whatever room gets the most traffic. That way, you can keep an eye on the activities.

You probably asked your kids what they learned in school today. So why not ask, "What did you do on the Web today?" Stay close to their online lives.

Patronize sites that post their privacy policies. These are statements about the kind of information sites collect from visitors and how they use it.

Keep the ISP account in your name. It's the best way to control kids' access and passwords.

Most browsers are equipped with "cache memory." In this memory the record of the Web sites you've visited is stored. If you don't mind snooping, this is the place to find out what sites your children are visiting. On newer versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, the cache memory is under the History button at the top of the browser. In later versions of Netscape Navigator, you find the history feature by clicking the Communicator button, then Tools. Browsers allow you to choose how many days worth of history you can store.

Many online services and ISPs allow parents to restrict their kids' access to services such as adult-oriented Web sites, chat rooms, and bulletin boards. They may also offer an area set aside just for kids where you don't have to worry about them stumbling onto inappropriate material or getting into unsupervised chats.

Several companies are creating browsers specifically for children. They come equipped with children-friendly sites and offer customizable controls that allow parents some power over their kids' online forays.

Perhaps the best way to guarantee your child is surfing safely online is to make sure they use the tons of available kids' sites. These sites can entertain as well as educate. Look for sites that post privacy policies, don't require extensive online registration, and limit or ban advertisements in the kid's areas.