Our observations, meeting 2,000 children and families during summer festivals in Latvian cities and talking about safety on the Internet, show that the most active interest in this topic is those families who have already encountered problem situations. Personal experience helps you realize that you need to think about and learn about Internet security all the time, it is not enough to have one conversation or a ban on using smart devices.
Children in the grip of misconceptions
In conversations with parents, you have to face several misconceptions that are worth dispelling. First of all, contrary to the opinion of adults, younger children do not associate certain Internet platforms with the Internet, but think that, for example, youtube.com is a place where they watch various videos, listen to music, but it is not the same Internet as on their parents’ computer. Sometimes there is a feeling that children believe that the Internet is something that does not really affect them: they talk more about specific technologies or the opportunities they provide, but do not associate them with the concept of “Internet”. Therefore, children often associate the Internet only with entertainment – animated films and games. In order for the child to learn to use the Internet meaningfully, the basic task of parents is to tell them what the Internet is and how it works. Also, the most important basic rules should be explained to the child so that he is knowledgeable and safe in the Internet environment.
Another misconception is that there is an ideal age at which a child should be introduced to the basics of the Internet. This begs the question, from what age should the use of the World Wide Web be allowed? It makes the most sense to educate children already at preschool age – the moment when, according to our observations, a smart device most often comes into the hands of a child.
The third misconception is related to screen time – parents often think that Internet safety is closely related to how much time their child spends on the Internet. This leads to the most frequently asked question: how long a day should internet use be allowed? Clearly, screen time should be kept shorter for younger children than for older children. However, it is much more important to encourage children to use the Internet meaningfully – by acquiring new knowledge and skills, getting to know the world or being creative. Allowing time to be spent idly on the World Wide Web increases the risk of exposing a child to age-inappropriate information and other safety risks.
What can parents do to help their children?
It is clear that few parents have the time, energy and knowledge to help children learn the basics of the Internet and educate them about safety. One of the possibilities is to get involved in the Drossinternets.lv educational program “Be an internet genius” so that children become smart, safe and responsible internet users. The program is aimed at preschool, primary and elementary school children and young people. It is a versatile educational program. One of its essential components is the interactive online game INTERLANDE, which I invite you to play with your family. It teaches five essential skills that every Internet user needs: sharing information wisely, never falling for scams, knowing what’s safe from what’s not safe, being friendly, and not being shy about asking for help. Just by speaking and acting, together we become smart, safe, brave, kind, and cautious greats of the Internet.
Useful materials for parents that will encourage conversations with children about Internet safety can be found at www.drossinternets.lv.
2024-08-23 09:26:53