Put The Internet Where It Belongs: Limits

The way in which ICTs have broken into our homes, setting the pace of family relationships, makes it necessary for today’s mothers and fathers to assume leadership in the technological education of our children and become mediators to regain control over family coexistence.

Children have endless opportunities with the internet, but these come with risks. ICT education, therefore, is an unavoidable challenge that we must assume with a double role: as first agents of protection against the inherent risks of the Internet and as guides for safe and healthy use. Nothing, on the other hand, different from the education that, as parents, we give our children in other areas of life.

To do this, we must act on various axes:

• Know the nature and language of the internet. The Internet is immeasurable: everything that is digital is accelerated, amplified and its effects intensify, and we also lose control of what we share on the Internet.
• Normalize the use of the internet in your family. ICTs must be another tool at our service and their use must not be an end in itself. Technology must be useful to us and not cause us conflicts. When we adopt a new technology or introduce a new device into our home, we must establish rules of use that facilitate the process of integrating them into the day-to-day life of our family.

Know the role to play according to the age of your children: Explorer, Guardian or Jedi.

Works the 6 main areas in technology education

1. Responsible use

Responsible use obliges us to set an example and establish rules for the use of each technological device at home. These standards will conform to our values ​​and principles, making our children understand their meaning and need. These rules must be sensitive to the evolutionary and specific needs of our children and open to consensus.

2. Self-protection

Pass on guidelines to your children that help them take care of their integrity online, recognize hostile attitudes from third parties and not allow themselves to be intimidated or give in to blackmail or threats.

3. Respect for own privacy and that of third parties

Our role as parents involves teaching them that privacy is necessary for us to maintain varied relationships, and therefore, that we need to have control over the facets that we teach ourselves to each person.

4. Health prevention

Various studies link the abuse of ICT in minors with physical problems such as muscle pain, headaches, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, dry eyes, and sleep disorders. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to promote healthy lifestyles away from screens, promoting recreational and sports activities.

5. Prevention of crimes on the Internet

Threats, insults, downloading copyrighted content, spreading photos or videos of crimes, possession of child pornography … ignorance does not exempt from compliance with the law, therefore that parents have to let our children know the importance of respecting the Law, also in the digital world.

6. Know and anticipate the most important risks for each age

From inappropriate content, cyberbullying, sexting, addiction to the Internet or online games, harassment by an adult, it is vitally important to know what risks our children are exposed to, according to their age, when they browse the Internet, in order to carry out effective prevention, minimize risks and take control in case we encounter a situation of this type.

Also Read: Tips For Responsible Use Of Technologies