These tips from Sound Feelings show simple steps to prepare your computer for you toddler or young child while giving kids an opportunity to develop computer literacy.

Learn the basics about the technology gap, get state-by-state data and read about the lack of appropriate Internet content for low-income and limited-literacy users in this 2002 review from the TechPolicy Bank.

Citing the importance of early brain development and language in its February 2001 policy statement on children and the media, the academy recommends no television for children under age 2, and that total media time for children ages 2 and above be limited to no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day. The academy also recommends removing televisions from children's bedrooms.

The Center on Law and Social Policy's 2002 report describes how legal services programs have used new technologies—including Web sites, e-mail, video conferencing and case management software—to inform and assist their clients. The report calls on the legal justice community to tackle such issues as Internet access, electronic consumer and government transactions, and infrastructure "redlining."

The PBS Parents site has a new section, Growing with Media, where parents can get age-appropriate tips for monitoring computer time for preschoolers or using the Internet to best advantages for homework.

In September of 2000, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported on the results of its investigation into the current marketing practices of the entertainment industry—movies, music and video games. Citing "pervasive and aggressive marketing" of violence-rated entertainment products to children and young teens, the FTC called for the entertainment industries to more effectively monitor and regulate their marketing practices.

If you're looking for ideas on good sites for young children, classroom tips, funding resources or the latest research on using technology to benefit children from birth through age eight—this site is a good first stop.

This report from the Children's Partnership examines the digital divide with regard to Web content, and urges community leaders, companies and investors to find better ways to serve the needs of low-income families as they move online.

The Internet, the Web, hardware, software, e-mail, downloading ... for many young people without computer access, it's a techno-speak jumble out there. The PBS teen series "In the Mix" offers activities for getting teens online.

While the online world offers children education and experience, it also can present unsafe
situations. This 1998 guide offers tips for parents on helping children get the most out of email, the Web, and chat rooms.