Parental Controls for PC?

Hello folks!

Well, if you've read my recent IAs, kiddo got a laptop for his birthday. I've been setting it up with all the virus stuff and whatnot, but I'm struggling to find a good programme for controlling the types of sites he goes to.

He's 12, so there's going to be times when we're out for maybe an hour or so and he'll be left to his own devices so...yeah.   

Any suggestions?  It doesn't need to be anything crazy, just something to block a lot of the bad stuff (I'm slightly less concerned about the content, even and more concerned with the fact that certain kinds of websites are RIDDLED with viruses).

Also, while I'm here are there any resources for teaching a kid how to browse safely.  I could tell him what not to click and what to do, but he's not really going to listen.  He needs a visual to help him along. BF doesn't even know what not to click, so maybe something for the big kid as well! 

Thanks in advance!

I think parental control software is mostly about filtering out adult content.

For protection against viruses, I would say any anti-virus software would do.

Since getting the computer infected with a virus would hurt him (by messing up the laptop), I think he would be careful not to do anything that would get his computer infected, so maybe just explain to him what he shouldn't be doing. Being 12 he probably knows about this stuff already.  

I don't know much about how parental control software works, but I would be careful that it isn't too restrictive - for example, blocking all sites that mention certain body parts when he might need to know about them for health/biology.

Thanks. Yeah, virus software is great and all, but it's not really something you can rely on entirely.

Depending on the parental control software, you can be as specific or as general as you like with what stuff is blocked, it's not just for adult sites (thought obviously that's part of what we're looking to block).  For example, there are specific online games sites that he has gone to that are full of pop-ups and viruses.  Perfectly innocent looking sites but, they're not.  I want to be able to block them.

He understands, and doesn't want to harm his computer, but he also doesn't understand everything fully, and until such time as we can sit down and really hash out the finer points of internet browsing, we would like to be able to limit what he can visit. It certainly can't hurt.

As far as doing work for school, we're usually home and helping him with that stuff, so the programme probably won't even be on during those times to cause any issues.  It's mostly for when we're not there.

Each of our girls (age 8 and 10)has their own computer and we use Norton Online Family.  We receive notification if either one of them tries to go somewhere they shouldn't.  It is pretty strict, but if a website is blocked that you don't mind your child going to it is easy to allow access. 
As far as surfing safely....check out your child's school website.  Our school has a link to a safe surfing guide.  Well, I should say our website did- they are currently revamping it.