Our eight year old loves to hear that it is his turn on the computer. As with most kids nowadays, he is quite adept at using the Internet. He mostly uses the computer to draw and to play games. Sometimes, he uses it to listen to stories. He is also pretty good at doing online searches.
Most school districts around the country have introduced computer classes into their curriculum starting in Kindergarten. Our son and other kids his age are growing up with computers. They do not know a world without them. For this generation, a PC is just as much a part of their world as a battery operated transistor radio was to me at this age.
Talking to children about the dangers associated with the Internet can be difficult for many parents. It could be that children know more about the Internet than the parents. Sometimes, it might be difficult the issue has become. Perhaps we think that such a thing could never happen to us.
Unfortunately, it does happen. Children are being exposed to filth on the Internet every day. Children are unkowingly placing themselves in potentially harmful situations every day through the Internet. Even if we do not know very much about computers and the Internet, we can still talk to our children about it. We can ask them to show us what they’re doing online. We can talk to them about our concerns. We can even ask them to teach us how to get online, how to use the various features of a computer. We can set limits and set Internet use rules. We can and should follow through with consequences when those rules are broken.
One of my favorite quotes regarding technology and media in our homes is this one by Elder Russell M. Ballard; “there is no such thing as unlawful censorship in the home. Movies, magazines, television, videos, the Internet, and other media are there as guests and should only be welcomed when they are appropriate for family enjoyment.”
Just the other day my son was searching for an online game that he’d heard about from a friend. He wasn’t able to bring the game up. Apparently something about the game triggered the filter software and so it was blocked. After a little digging I found that the game in question is a Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game.
As the name suggests a MMO is a computer game that allows hundreds of players to all play at the same time. This isn’t too alarming. However, these games do enable players to interact with other players from anywhere in the world. Now that is extremely alarming! I don’t want my eight year old son or even my fifteen year old to be interacting with anyone in such an environment. I don’t want them to be interacting with anyone I don’t know in any environment, virtual or otherwise.
Once I knew enough about the game, I sat our son down and explained why I didn’t want him to play this particular game. He already knew he isn’t supposed to talk to strangers so I started there. Remember those commercials on TV about talking to your children about the dangers of smoking and drugs? Well, just add the Internet to that list of things that you need to talk to your kids about. Talking to our kids is vital.
In addition to talking to him about what he can’t do online, I also remind him about what he can do. I remind him to check in his “Favorites” folder for games, crafts, stories, and other programs that are appropriate for him. We’ve bookmarked many sites that offer games, stories, crafts, homework help, etc., that are appropriate for him.
There are some great sites available for kids. If you don’t have a list of appropriate sites for your little ones yet, you can start one today. One of the best places to start is your library’s web site. That’s right! Most library systems across the country have web sites that are chock full of wonderful information for the whole family, including a selection of recommended web sites for children. Librarians at most systems research each of these web sites and recommend them only if they meet approved criteria. You can also check out other library sites across the country. They are easily accesssible online and it doesn’t cost you anything to browse their lists of recommended sites. In addition, many library systems also offer ebooks and stories that you can download. You do need to a library card to access this feature but it’s something else to consider.
Speaking of stories, did you know that Scripture readers are available online? Readers are extremely useful for very young children and beginning readers because the stories are presented at a child’s level. Old Testament Stories, New Testament Stories, Book of Mormon Stories, Doctrine and Covenant Stories can be accessed by going to this Children’s page of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints web site.
The task of protecting our kids from every danger can seem daunting. It may even seem impossible. A friend commented the other day that the more she knows, the more fearful she is of what awaits her kids each day. She is fearful that her children will succumb to influences that will lead them astray. I’m sure that all parents feel this way at one point or another. Elder Robert D. Hales has this advice for all of us; “Every parent faces moments of such fear. However, when we exercise our faith by teaching our children and doing what we can to help them, our fears will diminish.”
