CHILDREN AND COMPUTERS

With over 5 million children now regularly using computers and the Internet both at school and at home, the chances are that your child is one of them. There are many benefits in our children being competent and confident at using computers. It is certainly a skill for life as the world grows more and more technical each day and computers will become a central role in our children’s lives. It is also a great medium for education and learning about the world we live in and, of course, a great communication tool with global e-mail.

However, what issues should we be concerned about with the growing number of hours spent by our children on the computer – certainly very different from our own childhood when the most we got was maybe an hour or two of children’s television!
Here are some of the key concerns:

Health and safety using computer equipment
If children are spending large amounts of leisure time using a computer then they are spending less time being active and involved in general play and sports activities that are physical. It is important to be aware of any potential health risks and what you can do to reduce them. [see fact box on health and safety issues]

Isolating and anti-social
One worry parents have is that the spending a long time on the computer can be isolating, anti-social and addictive. Putting the computer in one of the commonly used rooms in the house reduces the isolation of its use. By placing it in the lounge, kitchen or hallway you know what your children are doing, how long they have been using it and also you can get involved. By being involved as a parent, you will be able to talk about the work children are doing, the ways they are using the computer, and understand some of the fun they are having. Set clear limits to your children on the length of time they can spend on the computer and any other restrictions you wish to impose.

Games
Children love computer games and they have access to many different ones on the Internet as well as those that are bought. But when should you start to worry about your children’s use of games? With press reports linking crimes with violent computer games, it is no wonder parents are worried. Whilst there is no conclusive evidence to show that computer games make children aggressive, there is some proof that children who have violent tendencies seek out more violent games. Research involving children aged 4 to 8 found that they were more aggressive for short periods after they played computer games.

• Buy computer games that are suitable for your children’s age group.
• Do not allow them to play obviously adult games
• Moderate the time spent playing on computer games as you would control their TV viewing time
• Only a small minority of children become addicted so allow them some fun.

On-line and chat room safety
It is important to be aware of the dangers children could be exposed to whilst using the Internet. Both you and your children need to know what the dangers are and how to cope with them. Simply banning the Internet in the house is a bit like saying you won’t let them out of the house. The reality is that children will access the Internet whether or not you have it in your home.

The statistics relating to children using the Internet, however are frightening.

• 1 in 4 children are accidentally exposed to nudity or sexual content online
• 1 in 5 children have received a sexual solicitation online
• 1 in 7 parents do not know what their children are doing on the Internet
• 2 in 3 homes do not have any Internet protection

Pornographers target children. Youngsters searching the Internet for information on Barbie, Pokemon and Mr Men using search engines find the words are linked to sites containing obscene material. Paedophiles use the same technique to draw children to chat rooms they use.

• Talk to your children about the potential dangers. Encourage them to avoid private conversations away from the other members of the chat room.
• Emphasise “stranger danger”. Just as you teach a child to be wary of strangers and avoid contact with them explain that no matter how friendly chats are in the chat room they are still strangers in the real world.
• Warn them against giving out any personal details, including their e-mail address or mobile phone number. Don’t let them send pictures of themselves to anyone without checking with you first.
• Most importantly, discourage them from ever meeting up with anyone from a chat room unless you are there with them.
• Don’t ban them from using chat rooms – remember it is paedophiles that are dangerous, not chat rooms
• Even chat rooms where there are moderators does not mean children are safe. Moderators could be responsible for many chat rooms and visit each infrequently or may be themselves suspect if they have not been vetted, specially trained and closely supervised.
• Use a filtering software that won’t allow your home address, email address, phone numbers or even credit card details to be sent out onto the Internet and also can help keep children from accessing inappropriate online areas.
• Encourage your children to be open with you and inform you if they personally get e-mailed any pornographic or other inappropriate material. These may not be reported to you because of a child’s embarrassment or fear. Complain to your ISP if you or your child are subjected to inappropriate contacts by strangers online.
• Warn you children of the dangers of downloading files. They could contain a type of virus called a “Trojan horse” programmer. These programmes allow outsiders to access and even control your computer remotely.
• Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and find out what child-safety measures they offer. If any unwanted emails get through their filtering service, report it to your ISP and they will follow it up for you.

Filtering tools
There are many types of filtering software available. These provide a range of methods of controlling, monitoring, filtering or blocking access to the Internet. Most products offer some level of protection but none can be relied upon as a complete solution. Use a product that is updated regularly to cope with the changing patterns of the Internet. Children also need to be aware of how to cope if the filtering software does not work. Surfonthesafeside and CyberPatrol both offer different levels of protection and have agreed to provide discounts to their services to readers of Family Interest Magazine.

HEALTH AND SAFETY WHEN USING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

• Limit time spent using the computer in one session. Children should take a break at least every 20 minutes and walk around. Exercise muscles they have been using such as hands, wrists and neck. Use eye muscles by looking at distant objects.
• The arm and wrist should be supported. The mouse should be held lightly in the widest part of the hand with fingers resting lightly on the mouse buttons so that only a small movement is needed to click.
• Use flicker free screens and adjust for brightness and contrast. Position screen to avoid glare from lights or windows. The monitor should be at the correct level so that your children are looking down at the screen, with the top of the screen at about eye-level. All computer users should have regular eye testing.
• Use a wrist rest to take the strain off the wrist when typing. Position the keyboard to be most comfortable (most keyboards have at least two different angles of tilt).
• A child should be able to sit upright on a chair with their back supported, with arms roughly horizontal when using a keyboard. Use a foot rest or footstool if their feet do not reach the floor.
• There needs to be enough space on the computer table for the keyboard to be in front of the monitor and for a wrist rest in from on the keyboard. Keep the monitor back from the edge of the table. Ensure plenty of space for mouse mat, books and paperwork. Document holders attached to the monitor can be useful to keep paperwork off the work surface.
• It is important for the child to adopt the correct posture. Make sure they are not constantly leaning their head forward and their chin is tucked in. The back should be supported in an upright position in the chair with the body facing forwards.

For further information and advice:

www.getnetwise.org - Safety information on using the Internet

www.safety.ngfl.gov.uk/ - This is the Superhighway Safety website where the latest government advice on online safety can be found. It is aimed mainly at teachers but is also relevant to parents of school age children.

www.chatdanger.com - This is a website all about the dangers of chatrooms with some useful advice aimed at children. It is run by Childnet International.

www.iwf.org.uk/ - The Internet Watch Foundation has a hotline where you can report any online activity which you think may be illegal. They will investigate and liaise with the police. Their first priority is child pornography.

www.surfonthesafeside.com – Sales site for surfonthesafeside filtering protection but also contains good advice and information on Internet safety.