The first way to track websites visited by your child is by checking the Internet History. Considering there are more browsers used the steps are different accordingly to each one.
Below I will provide the steps you have to take in order to view the websites visited for each browser in part.

Web pages recently visited on Internet Explorer:

1. Click on “My Computer“
2. Go to your computer’s “C drive“
3. Click on “Documents and Settings“
4. Click on your username
5. Click on “Local Settings“
6. Click on “Temporary Internet Files“

To view recent downloads on Mozilla Firefox:

1. Click on the “Tools” tab (found at the top of your browser after it is open)
2. Click on “Options“
3. Click on “Privacy“
4. Click on “Download History“
5. Click on “View download history“

Websites recently visited on Mozilla Firefox:

1. Press the “CTRL” and “H” keys at the same time.

Websites recently visited on Google Chrome:

1. Click on the “Tools” button and select “History“
2. Press the “CTRL” and “H” keys at the same time
3. Hold down the back or forward button for a couple of seconds (if either button is enabled) and choose “Show Full History” from the pop-up menu that appears

A disadvantage of this easy to apply techniques is that your child can easily clean and delete the Internet History after he stops browsing and you will no more be able to track the websites.

Another method to track websites visited by your child is to use parental control software or web sites monitoring software. When I say websites monitoring software, I don’t refer to keyloggers. Keyloggers are recording chat conversation, application running, keystrokes typed, while a web spy will record only the websites visited. In this way you will not invade the child’s privacy and intimacy. A parental control software has the same functionality like a web spy application and more, can block and filter specific sites. This method should be used if there is a need of a stricter surveillance over children.

The disadvantage is that if you are not explaining to the child the need and the reason why this application was installed, he might feel frustrated and become angry on you.

I know how teens think. Having this type of application installed, they consider their liberty in danger, the intimacy invaded and these are not things to get used to. These can bring frustration and children might become introvert and could even see you as an enemy.

I remember I have talked with my sister about this fact… she is 10 years younger and spends hours online. I am also an Internet addicted and I know how many risky but also inappropriate materials are available online. So I told her that there are too many unsecured websites available and I do intend to install Internet filtering software on the computer in order to protect her. But that was not the best approach because the next thing she told me was:

“If you are installing an Internet filter on the computer I will not speak with you again”.

In that moment I knew there was nothing more to say because she is a very stubborn person and I don’t want to take the risk of a “fight”. I ended up the conversation and decided to survey her online activity and habits. Better this way. I regularly check the Internet History and see what websites are visited. For my own piece of mind there are only proper web sites visited. So I guess in my case this was the best decision to take: on one hand she did not felt attacked and I was relaxed knowing she is browsing only safe websites.

I gave you this example to make sure you understand that choosing a way to control the online activities of your child, depends very much on his character and on how well you know him. There is no point I should tell you that an Internet filter is better than an Internet monitoring or vice-versa. But if you were already in this situation I would like to hear your opinion and to know what methods did you applied.