Posted by mike | Posted in Families, Media, and Technology | Posted on 11-05-2011
1) You can’t hide your children from technology – it’s everywhere. You may say ‘no’ to your children but they are able to access technology, the internet, and media at school, the library and at friends houses. Don’t pretend your children aren’t exposed to it. This creates an avenue to talk about it.
2) Facebook does not let children on facebook who are 12 and under. To do this you must lie.
3) You do not need a computer or laptop to access the internet. Cell phones, TV’s, and video game systems are providing basic access to the internet. To control access to the internet and monitor it, you need to monitor those devices also now.
4) Technology in schools is great. It does not mean though the teacher is an expert on technology. THey are learning as technology changes too. Dialogue is important about what realistic expectations are for at home and in the class. I know of one teacher who was advocating using facebook for his grade 5/6 students as a networking tool for the class. Problem is those children aren’t old enough to have facebook accounts. Teachers are a great resource for how to use technology in a positive way, but they don’t know everything, and they’re still learning – so give them some patience, dialogue, and work together to use technology effectively at home.
5) Kid friendly websites can have inappropriate advertising and links to sites that are not as appropriate. Don’t take these things for granted.
6) Firewalls and Routers and anti-virus software help, but they don’t stop everything. Don’t hit ‘ok’ every time it comes on the screen. IF you don’t understand it then don’t click it.
7) Cyber-bullying is real. Kids are picked on and mocked online. The difference is everybody can see it, not just two or three people who hear it when it’s said verbally.
Apple does not technically allow pornography into the app store. That does not mean apps can’t access pornography. iPod Touches, etc. all can access pornography through web browsers, etc.
9) Video games are not all designed for kids – many of them are designed for adults.
10) iOS apps (iphone, ipod, ipad) that are for kids often allow for kids to make purchases from in the app. This can get quite expensive http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020706073_2.html?sid=ST2011020706437 Learn how to disable in app purchases – Click on the settings app and then tap on ‘general’. From there tap on ‘restrictions’. Enter a pass code, and select ‘Enable Restrictions’. You can then disable different applications, including ‘in-app purchases’.