Tuesday, 5th May 2015
Switched On Families is about giving parents clear, honest, useful (and sometimes even fun) support to make sure your family gets the best from the web. You know your kids best, but here at Virgin Media, we know a thing or two about the web and want to help you make informed and confident choices.
Here are some tips, specific to each age group, to help you out.
At this age it’s likely that you’ll be very involved in your child’s online experience, and that they won’t be using the web to play with other children unsupervised.
Just like you’d think twice about letting your toddler walk out the door on their own, the web is a whole new world for kids - and they need someone to hold their hand.
The web and digital technology can support developmental play and learning in loads of ways – from fun games that teach the alphabet, to helping build social skills at an early age.
Because of the way the web works, your child could be only a couple of clicks away from stuff you don’t want them to see, like pornography or violence.
Just like in the real world, what starts out as a bit of teasing online, can turn nasty. This can be just as distressing for children and their parents as physical bullying.
The difference is that nasty things said online can still be there for lots of other people to see, long after the kids have made up.
That’s why it’s a good idea to teach your kids never to write anything unkind online, whether it’s about someone else or directly to them.
If your kids are starting to use the internet for their homework, you’ll know it’s a great tool to support their education. The web can also help them develop real world skills, like cooking or learning to play guitar. It’s also a great place to have fun and play with friends.
As kids get older, they’ll start to use the web on their own. Being able to read and write means they could be interacting with people they don’t know, or searching for things you don’t want them to see. And just like in the real world, a bit of teasing can easily escalate.
Your kids will now be spending more time online– the internet’s a great way for them to learn and keep in touch with their friends. At this age they might even have a smartphone, which can mean they’re online 24/7.
Just like bullying in the real world, kids can often keep online bullying a secret. You’ll know better than anyone when your child is acting strangely, so look out for any unusual behaviour that could be a sign that your child is being bullied.
Your kids will be using the internet to help with their homework – it’s an amazing resource that boosts knowledge and learning. They’re likely to use the web to play games and keep up with friends, which will help them develop their social skills too.
New apps, sites and games are launched all the time – some of which could present risks your kids aren’t fully aware of. As adolescence hits, more freedom means your kids may see age-inappropriate content online, like sex or violence. And likewise, they could be connecting with strangers from all over the world.
There’s a good chance your kids already have an online profile and will be using social networks and messaging apps to keep in touch with their friends. If your child has a smartphone, they could be online at any time, day or night.
What starts off as good-natured banter can often quickly escalate or be misunderstood, so even at this age it’s a good idea to teach your kids never to write anything nasty online either to or about someone else, even if someone’s been unkind to them.
As well as using the web for homework and having fun, your kids could be developing important life skills and building connections through the net. Plus, loads of teenagers are busy making awesome music and video content to share with friends online.
Your kids are probably active on lots of different sites, apps and networks, so you’ll want to make sure they’re building a positive digital profile. With so much time spent online, signs of internet addiction are worth looking out for.
The web’s packed with fun and knowledge for your kids to explore. But just like in the real world, there are things we all need to watch out for.
To help you keep up with the what’s happening online including the latest apps and crazes, we’re asking the people who are best placed to give you the lowdown – kids.