Navigating Your Preschooler’s Introduction to the Internet

Let’s face it, our youngsters are using the web whether or not we would like them to or not. A decade ago, parents and teachers tried to limit internet access, believing they’d succeed. However, internet availability is simply too widespread that our children are extremely tech-savvy now. It’s best to try and help them use the internet more usefully, give up gracefully, but with a mutually acceptable set of rules and modes.

Here’s how you’ll do this:

1. Cover the fundamentals

It is good to limit all net access until children reach at 3 or 4 because it’s widely considered the ideal age to permit children basic internet access. Don’t let your child find out about it through some other person. Be the one to introduce. Thus, your child will intercommunicate with you along with their net-related troubles.

Make surfing the web a fun thing you are doing together. Don’t make the web seem bigger than it really is. Remember, over 53% of the population in Singapore is seriously hooked on the web and you don’t want your child to be another part of that statistic.

Find websites you’ll surf together, like gaming sites. This gives them the perfect chance to share positive and negative net experiences with you.

2. Set Internet Usage Rules

No personal information should be shared on the web. Explain how bad people use the internet negatively. Sometimes it’s necessary to share information but they do so only in your presence.

Agree on the types of sites they access and also the kinds they’re not allowed to. Explain why; modern-day children are smart; simply laying down the law doesn’t help anymore.

Your child has to realize that when content has been uploaded, they will have little control over its use. It’s important to grasp how content may be misused. It’s important to have clear and specific guidelines about content uploading, viewing and viewer access.

3. Impact the correct attitude

Ask your children if they’d wish to face mean tricks, bad language and cheating. allow them to develop the correct attitude before they use the net to game, chat & email.

Remember your children are going to be influenced by other children in class. Nobody is perfect, it’s certainly possible that bad judgments, pranks and mistakes will occur. Prepare ahead by teaching them to respect others and command respect successively.

4. Monitor and Mentor

While trust is important, don’t forget to observe and mentor online interactions. Make sure you make a point of checking their social media accounts daily & observe what’s happening. Don’t do your spying in secret; let your child know that you’re letting them use certain sites that support your right to observe.

Investigate the way to apply privacy and security settings on social sites together with your kid. Find out how to use the ‘Safety Centre,’ ‘Block’ and ‘Reporting’ features. Numerous apps are available to stay a watch on internet usage.

5. Set Behavior Rules and Limits

Always share together with your children any point on internet-based harassment. Discuss how people aren’t what they appear to be online which reality is way different from the net world. Let your child understand that they must never meet any “online friends” personally.

Write an ‘Approval List’ and obtain your child to agree on the things mentioned. The list should contain all scenarios where your child requires your permission to proceed like making online friends, sharing information, uploading content, etc.

6. Ensure Responsible Conduct

Children use the web for scholarly research nowadays. However, they ought to know that simply because the information is accessible online, it doesn’t mean it’s accurate. Teach them the way to verify the knowledge by comparing it to alternative sources. Allow them to know that there are not any easy routes in life.

Sometimes children can encounter adult content online whether or not you’ve blocked all such sites. allow them to know beforehand that such content exists and explain its purpose. Don’t avoid the topic; this only makes the kid more curious.

Keep a watch on what your child browses. If you discover they’ve been browsing adult content or violence, don’t criticize or yell as this may drive them to try and do it again. Children are curious, especially about off-limits material; plus, they hear their peers. Use this kind of situation to debate the content with them. Be clear on what style of behavior you expect, but remain realistic in your expectations.

Conclusion

Put yourself in your child’s shoes and check out to determine how he/she perceives the web. If your child sees it as a learning tool, maintain the establishment. If your child seems excessively curious or sly, get on the watch. Always remember that when it involves the web, the positive aspects far outweigh the negatives.