During the last five years I have conducted a report and a subsequent review looking at the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games. It's given me a fascinating insight in the emerging world we are now living in, where our children are the digital natives and we are the digital immigrants.
They are growing up online and we should be positive about the endless opportunities this gives them. However, greater technological knowledge about computers and the internet does not equal wisdom about the online world in terms of safety and the management of risk.
Our kids know what roads and cars are but we don't let them outdoors unsupervised until we have taught them how to cross roads safely.
Even at a very young age there are things we can do to help them establish patterns of behaviour online that keep them safe yet enable them to become productive future digital citizens.
These are my recommendations:
- Up to age 3:
There should be very limited screen time for children under the age of three.
The internet is not a place for children under the age of three unless they are with you looking at web based content related to their favourite characters (e.g. CBeebies).
Books, games, music and movement are essential for learning and development including lots of outside play. - AGE 3 - 5:
These are the early days of having fun on a computer!
Start setting family online rules.
A grownup must always be asked before going onto the computer!
Limit onscreen time to no more than half an hour a day a day (adjust if TV is also watched a lot).
Balance media time with outdoor activity and indoor play and relaxation time.
Don't use the computer as an electronic baby sitter.
Use filters so that your child can only access appropriate content
Create a whitelist for your child so that they only log into specific websites selected by you (e.g. Cbeebies)
AGE 5-7:
Must never go online without asking a grown up.
Only use the family PC that is in a public space so they can ask for help if they need help understanding something, playing a game or if they don't feel happy with what they are seeing or feel scared.
If they surf the web, it should only be done on the family computer where grown ups have put on special filters to make sure that they get to the best and most fun sites quickly and easily and do not see stuff that will upset or frighten.
If they want to send pictures or photos to friends or relatives make sure you check them first. Help them understand that pictures or photos should never be sent to someone they don't know.
If someone tries to contact them while they are online either via chat when you are playing a game or via email or other kinds of message - they must feel able to tell you without fear of being told off.
The big rule is that they must never EVER tell strangers anything about themselves - where they live, their telephone number, not even where they go to school.
The following are all useful sites with sections for parents and carers where you can get more advice about all the things I've mentioned.
www.ceop.police.uk
www.thinkuknow.co.uk.
www.cybermentors.org.uk
I hope this helps to give you some ideas about helping your child take their first steps on a safe and happy digital journey though life.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject so please post a comment and get in touch.
Tanya