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‘Kids can bypass anything if they’re clever enough!’ How do you try to guide your children through the digital world while growing up? (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 week ago by jjpamsterdam@feddit.org to c/parenting@lemmy.world

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This article really struck a chord with me, since I'm increasingly worried about my children growing up in a world that is fundamentally different from the one I grew up in. It's incredibly hard to make sure that children are not confronted with disturbing imagery and all the propaganda that is circulating online without the fully developed critical thinking of an educated adult. How do you go about making sure your children become responsible adults online?

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[–] David_Eight@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I feel like with most things with kids, you just talk to them honestly and openly about things. I feel like, if they're old enough to ask, they're probably old enough to hear the answer.

This way they feel more comfortable asking you things. Because even if you lock down their devices air tight, they're friends parents probably didn't do the same. You can't protect your kids from the world but, you can prepare them to face it.

[–] RoquetteQueen@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My kids are still youngish enough that I can get away with limiting their internet access to screens I can see and hear. They have the TV in the living room and an old laptop beside dad's desk. I tell them that there are a lot of bad things on the internet and I need to be able to help them if they find something bad by accident. Whenever they stumble on something questionable, I tell them why I don't like it and we look for something else. Luckily they really don't argue about it (yet, I'm sure). I feel like it's working, though. They seem to be developing a healthy relationship with tech and screens. They love to watch arts and crafts tutorials on youtube and have been teaching themselves to draw and play piano, and they're actually doing well!

[–] Taniwha420@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

I've taken this approach with my kids, and although none are teenagers, I've still never got any kickback. For a while now they will even self report and call me if rubbish comes on. Actually, at this point they'd just change it to something quality themselves. I wonder if the reasons I don't like certain videos has sunk in for them, and they're just not interested in weird stuff now? A couple of them push with computer games though. I'm clear and consistent in allowing no first person shooters yet, but they try to get away with it if they think I'm not paying attention.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

We're going with a bit of both: time limits and exclusion, and an explanation why.