Children, computers and the internet. Are our concerns over health and safety valid, or are we over thinking the problem and holding our children back from engaging with a vast and rich resource?
Tablets, smart phones, pcs, laptops; our modern day lives are awash with technology. Living in a technological age means we are able to access the internet with ease, along with the wealth of information that it holds. We are also able to connect with people from all walks of life, from all over the world at the mere click of a button via a plethora of social networking sites.
For parents, keeping up to speed with what children and young people are doing online is a challenge. Often the internet and children is mentioned in the context of safety, danger and health concerns. Fears of cyber bullying and child grooming as well as health issues such as deteriorating eyesight and inactivity as a result of sitting in front of a screen for long periods of time can make the idea of allowing children anywhere near a computer entirely repellent.
A number of celebrities, such as Jamie Oliver and Sophie Ellis Bextor have publicly announced that they have either banned or heavily restricted their children from using the internet, mobile phones and social media sites. Jamie Oliver was compelled to do so after discovering that his young daughters had set up their own Instagram accounts in secret. Ellis Bextor, on the other hand, controls and restricts access and time spent on the internet, fearing what her sons might find online and says that they would become obsessed if given free access to it.
The case for abandoning the internet seems to be a strong one, backed up with a wealth of facts and stats. A recent report for Public Health England stated that “children who spend more time on computer, watching TV and playing video games tend to experience higher levels of emotional stress, anxiety and depression.” Additionally, Peter Davies, chief executive of Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOPS) recently reported that, “half of all child exploitation takes place on social networks.”
Should we really be as concerned as we are led to believe, or is this simply a case of parental paranoia and statistic scaremongering? Certainly there are real issues to be confronted here, but careful intervention and sensible management seems to be key. Surely parents have a duty to gain a level of understanding about technology and the way in which social media works so that they are able to find the right balance and framework for their child, backed up by some sound knowledge.
The internet can offer so much to so many, from online documentaries to apps that can teach a range of skills from phonics, and maths to stop-motion animation and music. In fact, a leading charity, the e-Learning Foundation, recently conducted research that suggested that children who do not have internet access at home will gain exam results that will be, on average, a grade lower than their internet connected peers. According to their research, 1.2 million teenagers log on to revision pages online every week and by doing so, their exam grades were likely to be higher.
Of course, alongside the academic benefits of internet connectivity is the degree of fun to be derived from playing games and using apps, and having fun is an important and essential part of being a child that should not to be overlooked.
It has always been the case that a parent is responsible for guiding and regulating their child’s experience of the world. The increasing presence of technology in our day-to-day lives, simply means that we may need to take a little extra time and make a greater effort to equip ourselves with the tools and knowledge to do so. As we adapt as a generation dependent on the use of technology in every facet of life, so too must we adapt to the modern day issues that confront us as parents.
