How much technology should the child be exposed to?

This is a very valid discussion as growth of technology has brought about advantages as well as disadvantages to the children. Children are today exposed excessively to computer and TV, with many different internet-enabled devices competing for children’s attention and parents finding it difficult to control the time and safety of their children. We need to control the extent to which children are exposed to technology.

Ways to manage and make the most of the time your child spends before the computer:

• Spend time and show interest in your child’s online life by knowing the games they play and the people they chat with; this will enable parents to understand their children’s online world and device steps for their safety.

• Discuss and set age appropriate rules regarding time spent before the TV or computer with your child and then enforce rules; ensure the rules are stricter for younger children.  

• Install parental control software that sends you regular activity reports and allows you to set time-limits, create blacklists or white-lists for specified key words or websites.

• Look for computer games that are educational and not violent or advertising-driven content; ensure that the games sites have safety seals like Privo or Safeharbour and decent safety controls.

• Ensure that your children play TV and computer games for a limited period only, so they have time for exercise, homework and socializing with other children.

• It is also to be understood that too much of TV or computer affects eyesight; ensure your child uses a well-lit room while playing games and sits at a reasonable distance from the screen. It would also help to make at least 1 day a no screen and no digital camera day.

• Discourage children to use hand-held mobile devices like smart-phones or the Nintendo DS that connect to the internet, especially just before bedtime as it affects sleep patterns and hinders them to unwind for a decent night’s sleep.

• Encourage children to play games and visit websites of their interest; you could also encourage them to a sport-related game or even start blogging on the subject.

• Most children today get homework to be done on the computer; ensure that they do their homework in the family room, so you can monitor the homework and check that they complete their homework before any online leisure activity.

• Encourage your children to use technology in a creative way; being creative online means creating, editing, video content, designing web pages and blogging. This helps them develop digital skills that are imperative in the modern world.

• Encourage the use of child-friendly search engine such Google safe search or Yahooligans; however at the same time be vigilant.

• Filter and block the use of certain applications streaming software or instant messenger services like Skype or Windows Live Messenger to prevent children watching videos.

• It is best to understand the games or social networks your child is accessing to check interaction with strangers and monitor if the sites have educational value for your child to benefit fully from the internet. 

Next the mobile phones that are increasingly being used by parents to guard their child’s safety, communicate and track by geo-location enabled software is used for a type of bullying, namely cyber-bullying. With the advance in technology it is becoming common even among primary school children.

Watch out for following signs in a cyber-bullied child:

 
• The child appears distressed, anxious, withdrawn, or embarrassed on receiving an online message.

• Your child makes an attempt to hide their online activity.

• Your child may suddenly stop using the phone or any other device.

• Your child may find it difficult to concentrate and do his/her homework; in extreme cases it could lead to depression and also suicide.

Parents could help their cyber-bullied child by:

 
• Cyber-bullying is serious and causes real distress; just adopt a sympathetic attitude, talk, and understanding the child’s feelings.

• Caution your child to not respond to such messages; children may find it difficult, but they have to be made to understand that it could be used later against them. 

• Evidence of cyber-bullying is essential; learn how to save and print these messages as a record. It would also help to learn how to block these offending messages.

• Understand and talk to your children about dangerous websites like www.littlegossip.com, www.formspring.com and www.stickam.com that could get them involved in cyber-bullying and sometimes pornographic content.

• Ensure that the mobiles/smart phones used by your children have parental controls; avoid giving your child phones with Wi-Fi network that could prove detrimental in the long run. 

Lastly encourage your child to talk about their online life; it would also help encouraging your child who is a victim of cyber-bullying to visit positive websites where young people help one another.

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