A couple of months ago I posted here on being grateful for learning. My learning was in relation to technology. My learning continues, my love of technology continues. As a mum in this very, extremely savvy techy world we are all a part of whether we like it or not we have a responsibility to our children to keep up with it.
I have been reading a lot lately, mostly online about young people, cyber safety, apps and social networking. One of the blogs I visited likened teaching your children about the Internet to teaching your child to Swim. Great analogy I thought. You as a parent would not take your toddler to the pool, throw them in and hope to God that they could just start swimming..... It's not going to happen. Same with the Internet. And much like swimming its ok if you don't know how to swim to enlist the help of others. Same with the Internet. As parents and educators of our children it's ok to ask for help in this ever growing, ever changing world of technology.
I do not like to rant on my blog, I do not like to tell people what to do or how to live but I feel so strongly, so passionately about the safety of children online, my own, my friends and my children's friends I'm compelled to step back up on my soapbox......
Do you know what your child has the ability to access from their digital media? I'm not just talking computers in your house or laptops. I'm including iPod touches, tablets, iPads, smart phones. I would hope you probably know that all of these technologies have Internet access, social networking access and even text messaging. If you don't your child probably does. They are true natives to this technology whilst you and I my friends are immigrants to the above said technology. And they love it, matter of fact I love it. The technology that we have the ability to use and learn from and share is nothing short of amazing. Yep amazing. Yet it frightens me just as much as it amazes me. It frightens me because so, so, so many children are accessing or have access to social networking apps, sites and plenty, plenty of material that allows them to be prematurely mature.
I believe it is my duty as a parent to be ever vigilant with this technology. I am as I have as said before not be the Internet police but I do have a responsibility to my children to help them grow in this ever changing, growing technological world and educate them on how to behave in a responsible, diligent and decent manner.
We have very specific Internet rules in our house that apply to all digital medias that we have access too. My biggest rule that I set myself and I believe I can instill in my children is that I will never blog, tweet, Instagram, FB, photograph or write in any form anything that I would not be happy for them to read or see. And I know as they get older they will have access to these things and my hope is that they will censor themselves in the same manner, if they don't believe they would be happy for me to read what they post, simply don't do it.
Here is our user agreement that had to be signed before an iPod touch was purchased by my 11 year old. Yep he had to wait til he was 11.
"With an iPod touch comes responsibility. If these guidelines are broken the iPod touch will be taken for a period of time that Dad/Mum feels appropriate.
~the iTunes account will be the one mum uses
~a pass lock is put on the iPod touch, Dad/Mum are to know the pass code
~if you are given a time limit for usage you stick to it
~stays in case
~limited internet access (safari is disabled and Mobicip is enabled)
~all games must be okayed by Mum/Dad
~age appropriate games - okayed by Dad/Mum
~ NO you tube
~ lives on the kitchen bench at night
~ Dad/Mum have the right to check it at anytime
~ contacts must be know by Mum/Dad, that means anyone who is a contact we must have met and okayed as a contact
~ the above applies to social networking/texting sites like Bump as well
~do not post, write, photograph (with the intent of posting/texting) anything that you would not be happy for your parents to read or see. Ever.
~ it does not go to friends houses
~ it does not go to school
Theses guidelines will change as you get older and are given more responsibility. "
As a parent of two children growing up so very quickly I will always endeavor to keep up with technology as much for them as for myself. To those of you who are not up to speed with the technology. Ask. Ask a friend, ask your kids, they know, they'll show you. Learn. Learn. Learn.
You can set up lots of parental controls on iPods and iPads which is indeed fabulous as younger and younger children have them. You can set up safer browsers for them, you can filter lots of content and then adjust that as they get older. Don't just think their iPod is a gaming device. It's not. It's not just a music player either. It's not. It is so much more and if you are a parent of children that have these devices, chat to other parents. Attend cyber safety talks. Read blogs or websites that educate parents about cyber safety. Be aware of the content on your child's device. Educate yourself.
Here are some sites I value
www.commonsensemedia.org
www.cybersmart.com.au
www.webwisekids.org
And here is a fabulous iPhone contract that has made headlines recently. I read it to my kids and they know one day they will have one just like it.
*Stepping off soapbox, again.