It’s quite telling that iPads and iPods are at the top of kids’ wish lists this year. With more and more children and adolescents becoming comfortable with Internet-enabled devices, parents need to stay equally savvy, making sure their parenting goes digital.

SocialShield, a cloud-based service that allows parents to monitor kids' use of social networks, offers these simple yet important tips to help keep your kids safe on the Interne.:

1. Encourage a positive online reputation. Oversharing, cyberbullying and other online hazards can seriously affect kids' online reputations. The most direct precaution to take against these risks is to talk to your kids about how they use the Internet. Discuss their activity on social networking sites --especially if they have time on their hands during their holiday break -- and come up with strategies for using websites wisely.

2. Keep computer usage in shared family rooms. The best way to monitor your kids' Internet use is to put the computer in living or family rooms, especially if they're going to be around the house more often while school's out. This encourages them to share positive findings and activities online, such as festive videos that put everyone in the holiday spirit.

3. Discuss technology use. If your child has just received a new smartphone or iPad, now is the time to set ground rules or limitations on how often they use these devices. With more personal ways to access the Internet -- and more time to spare during vacation -- kids shouldn't be spending all their time online. Also make sure they aren't friending random people on Facebook just out of boredom.

4. Make sure personal information isn't shared online. Even if your child is excited about making plans with friends during their school break, remind them that the more information they put online, the more access other people (cyberstalkers, cyberbullies) have to them. They should avoid oversharing any information meant for only close friends or family.

5. Block or filter sites if necessary. Kids can be impulsive, and they might get restless after a few days away from school during their holiday break. With monitoring software and services, you can have a better idea of how they're spending their time online.

6. Make strict rules about chat rooms and chat software. Unfortunately, chat rooms are havens for cyberbullies and online predators. And it's not just your kids who are on a holiday vacation! Parents of young kids may want to disallow chat rooms altogether, or only allow kids to chat with approved friends.

7. Monitor downloads. Free downloads that kids get really excited about -- music, videos, games --can make your system vulnerable to viruses, spyware or attacks. Encourage your kids to ask permission before downloading anything onto the computer, or find holiday music or games that you can download and enjoy together.