Technology has changed over the past four years and now better than ever parents have the tools and resources they need at their finger tips to protect their children online.  Looking for an alternative to Facebook for your kids?  Here are my recommendations:

ClubTuki - for ages 4 - 14. This technology combines online safety and educational games by The Children's Educational Network. Affordable for parents and downloadable from their website Shrek gives animated tips for online safety and provides a safe browser for children all combined with a parental control panel.

Meeville - for ages 4 to 17. This technology is a portable flash drive product that gives parents a monitoring tool for anywhere their children go and plug in. Meeville offers a Free Child ID profile for families up to four children. This profile can be accessed by law enforcement and approved medical personnel. Meeville specializes in age appropriate desk top website destinations for your children.

SurfKight - for the younger internet users. Free browser with parental control component. Mulit-language translator; customized settings for age appropriate user; includes dictionary and encylopedia; bookmarks predesignated websites set by parents; reads websites out loud in English.

A great alternative in social networking directed at tweens. ItsMyLocker verifies the parent to the child. Designed to connect tweens and teens to people already in their community. No chat rooms and no private messaging; teachers and coaches are allowed to connect with their students, but a child cannot request a friendship with an adult. ItsMyLocker was developed with the counsel and direction of over 30 law enforcement professionals, undercover detectives, FBI agents, prosecutors and child internet safety advocates.

Kids home for the holidays and left to their own devices need clear-cut direction.

The holiday season can be a time of joy, high spirits, gift giving and family time, but for parents, it is also a time of concern for children out of school and left without supervision. Teens especially will be more social than ever, considering the rounds of holiday parties and seeing friends outside of the school setting. Add the mix of texting, drinking and driving to the social networking scene and parents have additional worries.

The best defense for a safe, happy holiday season is trust-the open and honest relationship you've developed with your children as you have discussed what is off limits for personal behavior, the Internet and social networking, driving and drinking. Be clear and consistent so that everyone understands the behavior consequences. That and a sense of humor will help.

Still, temptations abound when the days are unstructured. This is the time to refresh your kids' understanding that behaviors that are considered "cool" are really against the law and can have serious consequences. In many states texting and driving is illegal and certainly drinking and driving is in all states. These behaviors affect not only the driver but the safety of innocent people who could be injured or killed.

Internet safety during the holidays

Teens congregate on social networking sites, even more during the holidays. Parental controls are perfectly acceptable and your kids should know what those limits are. Keep in mind that with smart phones like the iPhone, kids are walking around with mini computers in their hands.

Internet predators know when school is out and step up their efforts to entice kids into relationships. The holidays aren't necessarily a happy time for everyone. If a teen feels alone and sad, she is even more likely to respond to a dangerous proposition that seems innocent. Be watchful of mood changes.

It's party time

John Martin, now 29 years old, reflects on his teen experiences during the holidays. "Teen drinking is going to happen. Responsibility should be taught early on and expected. I think this approach to drinking is much more effective than ignoring it or trying scare tactics. Kids might be naïve, but they certainly aren't dumb," he says. "If there is a party, have it at your house. You know where your kids are, and who their friends are too. Parents can regulate what goes on and possibly take car keys from drivers before they leave."

Because I said so

Ultimately, consequences speak much louder than parental threats. Martin says that "'Because I said so' does not qualify as a valid reason for any teenager to not do something."

In fact, it can have quite the opposite effect." Looking back to his teen years, he reflects that positive parental influences, sometimes with difficult consequences, are the best teacher.

As a parent, you do have the right to ask, where are you going, who are you with and what time  will you be home. Those important questions, and the mutual trust you have with your teens, will make the holidays a lot more fun and a lot safer.

With the holidays rapidly approaching now is a good time to load up on your safeguards for watching your children's online activities. More time at home, more time on the computer, and more time on social media sites leads to the possibility for incidents to occur that affect our children.

IROC2.org's message brings being digitally responsible to the 21st Century.  Should we not put warning labels on digital devices such as we do when you purchase a toy, buy alcohol or tobacco products? Ever notice the plastic bag that comes wrapped around your recently shipped item. Keep away from children and pets suffocation is possible.

All these warnings are placed on these products to inform you of the risks associated with irresponsible use of the item(s) and to mitigate the manufacturer's liability, as well as to communicate safe use and proper disposal of the product purchased.

Should we not have warning labels attached to digital devices that can change or alter our life or the lives of our children and loved ones in 1 split second in time? IROC2.org is proactive in its mission to teach 21st Century Digital Responsibility to adults and children and through its Office of the Cyber Safety General adhere to the warnings that children will make decisions through technology and their digital devices that can change their lives forever.

On December 10, 2009 IROC2.org presents to a well respected Congresswoman in Washington, DC the first Petition to warn consumers and society that there is a big risk with the use of digital devices.  Please help IROC2.org and KidsBeSafeOnline to bring awareness of these digital issues and sign the Petition today!

The Five Dangerous Trends Concerning Kids, Technology and the Internet provides parents and adults with a Plan of Action and how to execute that plan to be proactive with their children and technology. What a great holiday gift especially if you know a youth receiving a computer or digital device  this holiday season.

Listen to Dave and Bill interview author and KidsBeSafeOnline creator, Denise Pellow.