Along with a healthy diet, proper exercise and lots of sleep, a local physician will be prescribing safe and healthy Internet usage to his patients.

"One of the realities is that almost all adolescents are online right now," says CHEO pediatrician and adolescent specialist Dr. Mark Norris. "I think every health care professional should attempt to take some time checking in with their patients' Internet activities."

In a recent article published in the Journal of the Canadian Pediatric Society, Norris urges health care professionals and parents to enlighten themselves regarding the Internet habits of kids.

"I usually start by asking about general Internet use and then get into more specifics as the conversation goes on," he said, adding he also puts emphasis on parental involvement in their kids' Internet lives.

Norris says many adults use the Internet merely for e-mail and Internet browsing and as such, don't realize the extent of what their kids are doing online.

As most information online is unregulated, Norris feels that an open line of communication between parents, health care providers and kids is needed to offset the potentially harmful effects of misinformation.

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