Indeed my eldest Son who is in his first year of school, has access to computers in his classroom environment. In addition to this, he has two parents who are both extremely in favour of and proficient in contemporary technology. As a result, at the age of just 5 - he is familiar with a wide range of current devices including iPhone, iPad, Sky TV, Apple TV, and Nintendo Wii.
Now, it is difficult enough as an adult (even one who is confident in modern technology) to keep on top of Internet Security/Safety. There are any number of very real dangers to us out there on a day to day basis. So our Children are even more vulnerable and will need as much help and protection as we can give them as soon as they are exposed to such technology.
To advise each and every parent on what will work best in their own household is almost impossible. A basic awareness of this problem is an essential starting point for every good parent, but opinions and methods will no doubt differ - and this is entirely appropriate.
My aim in this post is simply to share my own thoughts on how to protect Children from the dangers they face online, in the hope that they will help you to find your own methods in relation to this crucial subject.
So, with that in mind - here's a few things to think about;
General Awareness
This is the first and most important thing to consider. Talk to your Children and establish just how aware they are, and what access they have to the wide range of technology that is in your home (and also other places they may visit on a regular basis). You may be surprised at what they already know at a very early age.
It is up to us as parents to educate and help them so they are prepared to safely use the technology they will need in modern life.
Internet Connected Devices
Do you know just how many devices in your house are capable of connecting to the Internet? You may be surprised! In addition to the obvious PCs and Laptops - you can also connect Smartphones, Tablets, iPods, eReaders, and many Gaming Consoles including Nintendo Wii and Xbox. You may be unaware that your Wii can connect to the Internet - but your child may know this. Make sure you know what is going on in your own home in terms of connected devices.
What are the rules
Talk to your children and make them aware of what is an acceptable use of technology in your home. Try to steer clear of allowing devices in their own bedrooms as long as possible. Trust is important, but safety is paramount! Ensure the technology they are allowed to use is in common areas of the home where possible so you can supervise their use of such equipment at agreed times.
Using Parental Controls
This subject is a bit of a mine field. I personally favour educating my children in conjunction with parental supervision techniques, over employing the use of any parental control settings/software on the devices in our home.
Parental Control features are available on many Windows and Apple devices and can be configured to restrict access to certain websites, or deny access to that device altogether during a particular time period. I am not personally convinced that any such settings or software are completely foolproof however, or are a suitable alternative to effective parental supervision. Look into the options and decide what works best for you.
Social Networking
Do you allow your child to use social networks such as Facebook or Twitter? It is widely open to debate as to how old is an appropriate age to allow this and there does not seem to be a definitive answer.
You need to think very carefully about this however. Not everyone on Social Networks are necessarily what they seem. It is easy to setup an account and you do not have to use your real name. There are many dangerous people out there who are all too ready and able to pray on innocent, yet vulnerable children.
In addition to this, there have been many recorded cases of cyber-bullying on Social Networks. Schools will usually (quite rightly) advise against allowing access to services such as Facebook and Twitter - but there is no Nationwide policy in place at this time. I personally would strongly advise against allowing this however.
Email and Instant Messaging Services
The same principles apply here as they do to Social Networking. How old should your child be before they are allowed their own email account, or access to Instant Messaging Services? Again, anyone can setup an Email or IM account and you do not have to use your own name. This needs careful consideration and appropriate parental awareness and supervision.
Useful Resources
I am keenly aware of the importance of this subject, yet I am far from an expert on it. However, there is a wide range of information and guidelines available to us as parents. Here are just a few great links that I have found so far. I urge you to look at these, and use Google to find as much information on the subject as you can.
http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/beingsmart/
http://www.childnet.com/
http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/a-parents-guide
Conclusion
Technology has changed our lives, and generally for the better. It has also presented many new dangers which we all need to be aware of. Parents have even more responsibility in relation to this subject however.
Awareness is the key factor here in staying safe online. Arm yourself with knowledge, talk to your children regularly about this, and work with schools and other parents as much as you can. The Internet should be portal to useful, fun, and educational content. Let's all work together to keep it that way!
Stay safe!
Peter
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