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Contrary to popular belief, the Internet does not cause children to withdraw from their family and friends, nor does it seem to disrupt their normal behavior. In fact, according to a report by the National School Boards Foundation’s “Safe & Smart: Research and Guidelines for Children’s Use of the Internet,” there is evidence of a positive correlation between Internet usage and participation in extracurricular activities. It’s important to remember, however, that Internet usage easily can spin out of control if not regulated. These questions will help you decide if your child has healthy Internet usage habits, and they provide tips to ensure that the Internet is a positive force in your child’s life. Do you encourage Internet use? Experts recommend that children begin to use the Internet at preschool age. There are plenty of websites that cater to young children. Use the Internet as an opportunity to bond with your child as you guide him through suitable content. As a bonus, your child will get a head start on literacy and cognitive skills. Older children also benefit. The web is a great place to conduct research. Just be sure to remind your child that not all information found online is factual. Start by looking at the domain name and understanding who posts the site’s information. Domain names include: .com, for commercial sites; .edu for academic-administered sites; .gov, for government institutions; .org, mostly used by nonprofits such as charities; and .net, originally reserved for Internet companies only, but now considered a sibling of .com. Outside the United States, domains indicate country: .ca (Canada), .uk (United Kingdom), .au (Australia), .jp (Japan), .fr (France), etc. Do you have rules for Internet use? Set rules for the Internet just as you would for television, but try to distinguish between academic and recreational use. Let your child offer input for what he thinks are fair rules. It’s a good idea to set time limits for use. You may also want to list activities and chores that must be completed before Internet use is allowed. Homework should always be a priority, but keep in mind that the Internet can be a valuable resource in completing assignments. Do you highlight appropriate content for your child or restrict inappropriate content? It’s easy to get stuck in the habit of restricting sites not suited for your child, but this negative attention needs to be balanced with the positive. Together with your child, make a list of sites and the specific content each has to offer. Encourage the use of search engines for children such as www.yahooligans.com that can serve as a guide when you aren’t around. It’s better not to list restricted sites because your child’s curiosity will only deepen. Instead, you may want to purchase filtering software to block inappropriate sites. Have you written and signed an Internet safety contract with your child? Just as you teach your child not to talk to strangers, you should teach your child not to share information with others on the Internet. Even something as simple as your child mentioning the name of his school can place him in danger. Forming a contract presents an opportunity to establish what monitoring practices you will use. Whether the contract states that your child will not use the Internet without your presence in the room, or simply that he will not keep secrets from you, it’s important that you have some level of awareness of your child’s Internet activity. You may find it necessary to have all of your child’s e-mail routed through your account, but even this isn’t foolproof. Hotmail, Yahoo! and many other sites offer free e-mail accounts that your child could utilize to bypass this. Does your child get jumpy or act nervous when you enter the room while he is on the computer? As with anything, this is a sign that your child is doing something wrong. If you suspect your child has just closed a window that he didn’t want you to see, ask him directly. If you don’t believe him, use the history feature on your browser to find what sites have been visited recently. Your child won’t have had time to clear the history if you caught him in the act of wrongdoing. If this is a frequent occurrence, start by reminding your child of the safety contract. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to increase monitoring and restrict usage. Does your child seclude himself from family and friends in favor of the Internet? Internet addiction is quickly gaining status as a legitimate affliction. Too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. Keep track of your child’s behavior and habits, and note any significant changes. Changes could signify a budding problem with Internet addiction. It is important to address the problem before it escalates. Don’t be afraid to contact outside help if you feel you can’t handle the problem on your own. By Jamie L. Scheppers |
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