- Image by San Jose Library via Flickr
My kids are hooked up. At ages 4 and 6, they enjoy websites such as Lego, Club Penguin and Starfall. They play games. They interact. They explore. Me? I’m around. I’m aware they’re on the computer. But I don’t sit next to them. I don’t play most of the games with them.
I try to check the websites they visit before they play. Try, of course, is the operative word because I know there are plenty of times that they find sites when I’m not available. And there are other times that I’m available, but glance up to see another animated game and say “oh. Okay. Enjoy.”
But as the kids grow, so do their online interests. It won’t be forever that they play games on Playhouse Disney and Nick Jr. They already know what it means to search. I’ve fed to them the idea that information is limitless and we should always search for more. We don’t use the term search. Like so many others, the word google has become a verb in my children’s vocabulary.
Have you tried it? Have you tried to google a common word? One like monster or toes. With most words you’ll come up with safe searches. Search “toilet” on Google and you’ll see images of a white toilet with links to toilet manufacturers. So the giggles of potty talk remain sweet giggles. But children giggle just as much about the word “toilet” as they do “penis” and “breast”. Google one of those words and you won’t be quite as calm about with the images appearing on your screen. Nor will you enjoy the links ranking highest and appearing on the first search page. While the kids initially giggled about the sound of the private word fairly innocently, their innocence is interrupted, all because of playful searching.
Cyber Safety discussions need to begin young. Very young. As soon as your child can control a smartphone or open the internet, young. We need to teach our children that computer use, cyber use, is a privilege, something they earn. They need to recognize that trust is something that must be earned, not handed out. And they must learn that family rules carry on at other people’s homes: just because Cameron is allowed to search google without a mommy present, doesn’t mean you are.
Bring all of this up and, of course, the questions will follow. Why, Mom? Be honest with your children. Let them know that the internet was created for adults who have the ability to make decisions. Tell them that there are images and links on the internet that aren’t for children. The world isn’t all a playground, after all.
Parental controls are available for both Macs and PCs. Parents, even parents of young children should learn them and utilize them. Find search engines like Yahoo! Kids, where human employees have checked every listed link and approved them for use of children ages 6-12. Create a family media plan relevant to the interests and beliefs of your family. Discuss this plan, write it together.
Most important, take interest in what your children are doing online. Ask about the games they play. Inquire as to how they feel when they play the games, when they experience success or defeat. Offer to play with your children. Open a dialogue in your home where your children want to discuss what they’re learning and doing.
Believe me. It’s better to know.
I was enlightened on Cyber Safety and parent involvement at the Y! Mother Board Summit, which Yahoo invited me to and paid for my attendance. The things I learned were life changing, and I learned how important it is to share it with my readers.
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© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
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Terrific post!
Offering to play online games along with your kids is a great way to really see what’s going on and what kind of controls the games have built-in for younger kids (like restricted-vocabulary chat).
This even works for older kids. My wife – not an avid gamer by any means – actually played World of Warcraft with our teens. She gained quite an appreciation for the complexity of the game as well as its addictive qualities. This led to much healthier and more informed/balanced conversations with our teens about limiting play.
My two are very tech savvy too and “Google it” is most definitely used often when they ask a question that I don’t have the answer too. My oldest, 9, has his own laptop in his room however we have had multiple talks already of safety and his computer does have parental controls all hooked up. My 5 year old has a computer at her disposal, but not in her room. She also can’t type yet so that limits how far she can get. I can’t emphasize enough though to be careful when searching Google. The other day I put in the term “Pirate” looking for the famous skulls and crossbones image and to my surprise discovered that it is also a name of a raunchy magazine for men. Who would have thought? or maybe I just live under a rock? Anyways, just reminded me about how what I think may be a safe term to search, may not be. Great article!!
.-= Mel’s Box of Chocolates´s last blog ..The Incredible Shrinking Woman =-.
Twitter: justprecious
August 3, 2010 at 8:17 am
Pirate? Really? There are a few search engines for kids that protect from stuff like that, rather than using google directly, like Yahoo! Kids, which I’m going to book mark on my kids’ computers.
Bill, you are so right. We need to learn more about what our kids love to reallyunderstand. Kudos to your wife!
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