Children And Internet Access: How To Manage It?
Children and internet access is one of the areas that most concerns parents today. New technologies and network access are relatively recent issues. Due to the lack of references from their own childhood and the ignorance of this new world, parents can feel confused about what limits it is appropriate to set for their children.
Children and internet access: one more tool
For adults it may be surprising how fluent children are with electronic devices. In an almost intuitive way, children develop and enjoy the technological world.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to try to keep our children out of the online universe. They are children of their era and an excessive restriction of their access to the internet could deprive them of an important part of their social and educational development.
The Internet is a tool that, depending on how it is used, can be positive or negative. On the one hand, it provides us with information, fun and a new way of communicating with the people around us. The latter especially highlighted in the case of young people.
On the other, it allows us to access content that may be inappropriate for minors. Also, due to the immediacy of the reward it offers, it can make children more impulsive, nervous, or addicted to these devices.
Therefore, the best option we can take is to apply common sense and supervision in the same way that we do in other areas of our children’s lives. Offering guidance, setting limits and educating in values that lead the child to develop their own criteria.
Keys to addressing children’s internet access
Information
The first step in tackling our children’s internet access is really knowing what we’re up against. It is not beneficial for children to know more about the network and devices than their parents. Search for information and try to familiarize yourself as much as possible with this world.
It is necessary to have a basic level of management of these technological devices. But we also have to know the social networks or video games to which our children are exposed. Only in this way can we form an accurate opinion and set appropriate limits.
On the other hand, we have to provide our children with truthful information about the internet. Explain its pros and cons and tell them about the dangers it entails. Just as we instruct them not to talk to strangers on the street, we must do so with strangers on the Internet.
Basic rules such as not sharing personal information or coming into contact with strangers must be clear to children. Not just because we say so, but because they understand that it poses a real danger.
Limits
As parents we have to supervise and take care of the use that our children make of access to the network. For this, it is convenient that the computer is in a common area of the house and that we are present while they navigate.
We must establish limits regarding the hours of use of technological devices and the content that can be accessed. There are different parental control software that allow us to restrict and monitor these two aspects.
Confidence
Establishing a bond of mutual respect and trust with our children is one of the best resources. Try to be a participant in your child’s life both online and offline . Instead of judging or criticizing their behaviors online, be flexible and available to guide them.
It is important to ensure that minors do not share personal information or photos without our supervision, but try to balance control with confidence. Let him show you that he is responsible.
Balance
Finally, we have to see internet access as just another part of our life. We must not eliminate it completely but neither allow it to absorb all of our children’s time.
It is not beneficial to use electronic devices as a babysitter or allow children to use them as an escape from reality. It is important to offer them other leisure alternatives: reading, board games, family plans. You have to show them the great value of social interaction and life in the flesh, which can never be replaced by the internet.
