Removing preinstalled apps

I just got the mytouch 3g i've been wanting a droid, and I love the phone but not some of the apps.  I'm not a stock person or a few of these other apps, and was wondering if there were a way to remove them.  I've gone to the manage apps, and all it says is clear data and force close.  I'd like to remove a few of these apps as I don't use them, and my son likes to run off with my phone and play games, and I don't want him accidentally doing something he shouldn't in one of these apps.  Is there a way to remove these apps?