Internet Safety - Creating a Safe Screen Name

We must start young teaching kids how to be safe online.  

Children are starting to use the Internet at a younger age to play games.  Many of these games require that the parent set up a screen name for their child.  Parents will often use their child’s name and simple words that kids can remember and spell when they set up their child's screen name.  

Not a good idea!  This often leads to a very insecure username that can identify their child to strangers. The number one danger we want to teach kids to avoid.

Screen Name creates the online identity of the child.  Often parents emphasize the importance of coming up with a strong password. This is the OPPOSITE of what we need to focus on with our kids. Passwords can be recovered, and passwords can be changed very easily. It is your child's screen name or user ID that needs to be protected. Especially for children who use these screen names in their games and as their online persona. 

The goal is to give kids a step by step plan for coming up with a unique screen name that they can easily remember.  Just as important is to teach your child never to share the screen name..

Kids across the country enrolled in Discovery Kids Puterbugs Program are learning how to be safe using technology.   Creating a safe screen name is just one of many lessons they will be learning

Your 3 year old wants to use your computer - What's a mom to do!

You are working on your laptop and your 2.5 year old is poking at you and wants your computer.  You decide it’s time to show her on one of those kid friendly sites your friends have been telling you about.  So you just pull it up and push the keyboard in front of your child. Your child starts out very cautiously tapping the keyboard, but then in front of your eyes she begins to hit and bang all the keys to get a response.  As most parents your immediate response is to yell, “NO” and take the computer away from the child.  Tears erupt.

What’s a Mother to do?

Of course your little one will want to use a computer.  It looks like a big toy for grown- ups and she wants what grown-ups are using.  You should never give your child a piece of technology without setting expectations on how you want her to use it.  Set a special time to sit down with your child. Let your child know that she is about to do something really, really special – something only “big” people get to do.  . 

Let them value the privilege of using the computer.  For example, you may say to your child, “You are sooo good. Guess what? You are going to get to use the computer!”

(Get to – powerful phrase makes child feel special)

Teach your child right from the start your EXPECTATIONS and set specific rules when they are using the computer. Discuss respect.    Make it simple for the young child to understand. 

Using Imagine Tomorrow Stages of Development for Discipline applies to technology

Say, "Do you think you should bang on the computer?”  Shake   your head and say an exaggerated ‘Nooo!’  We must RESEPCT the computer.  

Do you think you should tap the keys with one finger?  Yes!”  Shake your head and your child will imitate you. 

First, let’s pretend.  Have your child pretend to tap the keys in the air using the pointer finger then do it on the keyboard. 

Final Step to achieve SUCCESS is for you to give genuine praise to your child for her achievement.   Give the child a high five!

Kids & Technology: 3 MYTHS!

MYTH: Kids who use technology miss out on 'good old fashioned' play.TRUTH: Kids who use technology still have ample time for tea parties, hide and seek, and tag. Parents must be the ones who encourage balance. Just as you would want an avid reader to sometimes put the book down and go out and play, the same applies to the child on the computer. Children need balance between independent activities and social activities, and between quiet activities and physical activities. Parents must help them manage their time and achieve that balance.

MYTH: Technology prevents children from having the social interactions they need.TRUTH: Technology connects us! Children see that at an early age. They see they can communicate with others by emailing, texting, skyping... If the concern is too much texting or screen time, then limits need to be set by parents to achieve the proper balance. Children can learn at an early age how to use technology as a tool to communicate and collaborate with others--anywhere in the world! That is something they will need to know to be successful in their future.

MYTH: Technology and multi-tasking hurt children's ability to focus.TRUTH: Technology is not what affects focus. Content and method of delivery affect focus. When content is made fun and interesting, children focus better. A child in a classroom might focus better on a hands-on experiment versus a boring lecture on the same topic. Technology creates a multimedia experience that reaches children through multiple senses - sound, touch, and sight. Studies have shown that engaging multiple senses can help children learn and better retain what they have learned. Multi-tasking is a great skill when performed effectively. Knowing how and when to give something more focus and attention over another distraction is a useful skill. Children are developing these higher capabilities at a younger age. What is described as "lack of focus" can simply be a sign of boredom and the failure to challenge their growing minds.