by Tina Z. Velgos

Have your kids got those back to school blues? Camp Internet is over! Mom and Dad, this is your wake-up call! As summer vacation draws to an end, it's time to make new rules about kids using the family computer.

Chances are, your kids have enjoyed extended privileges either on the 'Net or playing their favorite software (edutainment CD-ROMs, no doubt!) on the family computer.

Dreaming of a T1 line, a multimedia notebook (with 6xx CD-ROM drive), and a second Syquest or Zip, your kids' late-night surfing sessions on AOL are soon coming to an end.

Before your house turns into Camp Nerd, your job is to make the transition from downloads and animated gifs to binder paper and school books a smooth one.

Of course, your kids can still use the computer during the school year for word processing and research. Just Limit the amount of "surfing" they do on the Internet during the year so their grades won't suffer.

This is a good time to update your family's computer reference library. Make sure you have at least one, good encylopedia (Encarta 96, Groliers, etc.) on CD-ROM. We have four different encylopedias for the kids to use..two of which are '96 versions. There are special encyclopedias for younger children (Check out the Ultimate Children's Encyclopedia by the Learning Company for a complete reference library on CD-ROM for kids ages 7-12).

Allow kids access to the Internet only AFTER they have researched a subject. If kids use research as an excuse to get online, it's probable that they'll waste time surfing instead of studying. Don't let them print EVERYTHING, either. Show them how to cut and paste text or use an off-line reader.

Use Internet time as a reward. For instance, if your children complete their homework without you having to nag them, that might earn 10 minutes of online time per day. If they bring home a great grade on a test, give them another 10 minutes or so. It's up to you when they can cash in the time that they've earned. Keep track of the online time by using your favorite spreadsheet. If necessary, print out a copy and hang it on the refrigerator to give them an incentive to finish their homework.

Put a limit on your child's after-school visits with friends. If your child's friend is a latchkey child and there's a computer and modem in the house, it's likely that parents are using the computer (and modem) as a babysitter. Don't be surprised if your kids come home from their friends' houses with their homework untouched.

It's extremely important to reinforce a strong homework policy. That is, before any privileges are extended to your child, homework and studying must be finished (don't settle for the excuse, "I only have a little more homework left"). My personal policy is that my kids a) aren't allowed to visit kids whose parents aren't home (regardless of whether there's a computer or not in the house) and b) aren't allowed online unless my husband or I can supervise them adequately. If you're pre-occupied with something when you agree to supervise your kids, you're more likely to walk away from the computer in a few minutes (after your kids promise they won't go anywhere "bad"). This isn't adequate, in my opinion. There are too many possibilities for kids to stray on the Net.

Start the "withdrawal" process gradually. A good time to begin implementing the changes is two weeks before school starts. First, adjust the bedtime hours. If your kids have been allowed to stay up extra late during the summer recess, adjust their bedtime an hour at a time until they're back to the usual bedtime during the school year. Take the kids to the library and urge them to borrow a few fun books to read (before the required reading sets in). Allow for some online time during the weekend if the kids have held up their end of the bargain.

If, however, there's a computer in the child's bedroom and the computer has a modem, you may decide to take some steps to guarantee that your rules are followed including relocating the computer to a family area or taking out the modem . Simply discontinuing an online service is not enough. Do you know how many "free" opportunities kids have access to? Open any computer magazine and you're sure to find a shrink-wrapped disk offering "free" hours.

In some ways, it was easier for parents back in the days before the Internet! Kids spent long summer vacations riding their bikes, playing games,watching TV and going to camp. Come to think of it, the TV is hardly on in our house these days as Camp Internet is winding down. I'm looking forward to the start of school and re-gaining the family computer! Geez, I wonder why the kids dread going back to school?

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