Be in control of your child's online activities
We marvel each time a
toddler effortlessly unlocks a phone and dials a number or takes a
picture.While this may seem amusing, it is actually a cause for concern.
Many parents don't think twice before letting their young children
access games and watch videos on tablets and mobile phones; in fact,
many kids under the age of 10 have their own personal gadgets. The
internet can be a dangerous place for an innocent child, which is why it
is important for parents to have complete control over their ward's
activities.
Denet Pradeep has locked all the apps on her tablet, so
that when her 11-year-old
daughter has to use them, she has to come to her to unlock it. This way ,
she knows exactly what her daughter is looking at online.“Apart from
this, I have told her that there are some things that she shouldn't
watch.She's at an age when she is curious about a lot of things, but she
knows that if she wants to know about something, she should come and
ask me. I have also told her that there are certain pictures that she
should not share on group chats. I don't think that children should be
given much privacy till they are 18 because it is our job as parents to
protect and guide them,“ says Denet.
Psychosocial therapist Dr Shreedevi agrees and says it is wrong for busy parents to give their children a free hand over mobile phonetablet usage to keep them distracted, as this can lead to internet addiction and expose them to online dangers. While a child's internet usage can be tracked to a large extent at home, what happens when kids go to their friends' houses and use gadgets there?
“You should look at the pictures that your kids have taken when they go out with their friends. Also, there should be a set family time at the end of each day, during which everyone in the family shares what they did. If your child has done something good, then you should appreciate it; if something bad has happened, then you must explain why it is wrong.Therapeutically, this is helpful and busy parents must make time for such an activity,“ says Dr Shreedevi.
Psychosocial therapist Dr Shreedevi agrees and says it is wrong for busy parents to give their children a free hand over mobile phonetablet usage to keep them distracted, as this can lead to internet addiction and expose them to online dangers. While a child's internet usage can be tracked to a large extent at home, what happens when kids go to their friends' houses and use gadgets there?
“You should look at the pictures that your kids have taken when they go out with their friends. Also, there should be a set family time at the end of each day, during which everyone in the family shares what they did. If your child has done something good, then you should appreciate it; if something bad has happened, then you must explain why it is wrong.Therapeutically, this is helpful and busy parents must make time for such an activity,“ says Dr Shreedevi.
Source | Times of India | 27 October 2015
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