TRYING to control a child isn't easy. Tell them not to do something and they're likely to take the first opportunity to ignore you.

This may be natural childhood exuberance, but there are times when it puts their safety at risk.

Telling them not to go on internet chatrooms, warning them about inappropriate websites can only go so far to protect them.

Blocking these sites, restricting their hours of use and setting the computer so that it logs them out when that time is up is probably a safer bet.

That's exactly what the latest technology offers parents. Anyone who has bought a new PC within the last six months to a year, will have a programme called Windows Vista installed that can easily do all of that. The older Windows XP also offers protection, but to a lesser degree.

For technophobes everywhere, Itec training centre, in Basildon, is running courses in how to use these safety nets.

It has set up a series of safer surfing seminars to show parents the help available to them.

The free courses, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, are up and running at Itec's headquarters in Burnt Mills Road, Basildon, and could soon be introduced in Southend. The three-hour course is the brainchild of Kirk Redhead, Itec's business development manager.

"I was very aware of all the furore from the Government about young people being groomed by people using internet chatrooms. At the same time we are very aware as a company that there are controls available within computing systems to be able to stop some of that happening," he said.

"So I thought it would be a good idea to be able to help parents have control over the computer."

The sessions teach parents simple measures, including creating a separate account for each child and restricting access to certain websites.

Anne Knill, of Billericay, mum to Jonathan, 11 and Charlie, nine, signed up as a way of catching up with the rest of her family.

"Children know so much more about computers and the internet compared to their parents and I hope this will let me get one step ahead," she said.

"The first time I used a computer was when I went to work, we didn't have them at school and when it came to the internet I didn't have a clue. I just want to do my best to protect my children."

Tim Chamberlain, from Wickford, attended the course with his wife Helen. They have two sons Lochlan, eight, and Oliver, five.

He said: "Our children are using the internet to play games and search for help with their homework and we want to protect them from accessing sites with adult content by mistake."

For mums Vicky Stacey and Anita Hogwood, whose children attend Runwell Primary School, the course was a real eye-opener.

"I didn't know enough about controlling what my children were doing online," Vicky said.

"Now I know, my kids are going to hate me."

Kirk added: "It's our children's generation that owns the internet.

"For us it's a way of shopping and downloading information, but for kids it's a social thing."

"Asking whether the internet is a safe place is like asking how safe it is when a child goes shopping with their friends, or crosses the road. You can advise them and put controls in place but if they want to get in trouble they will. You can just make as safe as can.

"There's no substitute for being involved with what they're doing. If they come home from school and say there's this wonderful new site, ask them to show you what it is and then you can decide whether you're happy for them to use it or not."

For more information on future courses call Itec on 01268 286929.