Parents and guardians often worry about keeping younger children safer, while mistakenly thinking older children are prepared to "take care of themselves." Tweens and teens are desperate to establish their own identities, so communicating with them may be more difficult. If you don't know who your children's friends are or where they like to hang out, then you may not have a good starting point to begin a search if something happens to them or they go missing. As this school year begins, start thinking about the on- and offline safety of your tweens and teens.

The Internet adds a whole new dimension to tweens' and teens' worlds, and knowing where they are while using the computer isn't enough. Knowing who your children are communicating with, what they're doing online, or the plans they may have made to meet someone in the "real world" are all part of staying connected.

Tweens and teens access the Internet in many places besides their home, such as schools, libraries, and friends' homes. Many check their e-mail, social networking sites, and IM right from their cell phones. So, how can you connect with your older children when they're constantly "connected" to their online worlds? Communicate!

If you participate in your children's activities and actively listen to them, chances are they'll come to you if they have a problem, or feel concerned or frightened. The sad reality is that if you don't pay attention to your children, someone else will—whether it's on- or offline. Try these conversation starters with your children to help you stay connected

• What's your favorite thing to do online?
  
• What is personal information? Why should you keep it private?
  
• What features do you use on your cell phone? Can you show me how to use them?
  
• What would you do if anyone online asked to meet you face-to-face?
  
• Besides me, who are two other trusted adults you can talk to if you're ever faced with a scary or uncomfortable situation online?