How safe is it to share my PC around the family?

• Keep your computer knowledge up-to-date or your kids will be running rings around you. Take an adult education course if you need to get up to speed.
  
  
• Place your PC in a public location (such as a living room) as it makes it easier to keep an eye on everything and solve disputes before the kids start fighting over the optical mouse.
  
  
• Create a timetable for when the PC is available for use for different family members.
  
  
• Make use of the networking features on modern PCs so that each family member can have their own separate log-in and data files, and can't mess with other people's data.
  
  
• Until you feel your kids are mature enough and responsible enough to do so on their own, make it a rule that no-one can install any kind of software without getting permission and/or supervision from Mum or Dad.