La Piazza Blog - PANDA SECURITY SUPPORT

Posted by Nerea Bezares October 08, 2009

Some parents believe that if their children do not have access to new technologies, they may not be preparing them for the future. Consequently, they purchase a PC and pay for an Internet connection for their children to benefit from it.

• Do children really need a computer at home?
• How much time should they spend on the computer?
• What should and shouldn’t they do?

These answers can be provided by your children’s teachers, who will inform you: 

1. Whether they learn about new technologies at school and whether they need a PC at home. 
2. Whether the school has computers children can use out of school hours to do their homework.
3. Whether libraries and youth centers nearby offer basic courses, activities or free Internet use. 

Above all, teachers will know your children and can provide guidance regarding activities and the time they should dedicate every day, depending on their age and educational progress.

You will see children’s enthusiasm as they turn the computer on (without fear or prejudice), and the speed with which they assimilate concepts that adults have taken a long time to assimilate.

• Through educational games (music, letters, numbers, pictures, etc.) they expand their vocabulary, and improve their writing, reading, memory and motivation.
• When they search for information (mostly when working with other students or parents) children learn to overcome obstacles through team work, and are encouraged to share.
• On using social networks (Facebook, Twitter,…), they evolve as individuals feeling part of a group that has their same interests, etc. Remember that this point is not without risks.
• Later on, as children advance, let them explore in a controlled way, monitoring them at a distance. You will be increasing their security and autonomy.

We have found common guidelines among parents and children between four and eight years:

• Parents install games they have previously checked.
• Internet access is limited to specific pages through a control (Antivirus - Parental Control).
• During the week, limit computer use to an hour a day maximum.
• When children have the chance to play with friends, go for walks, on excursions, etc. turn the computer off. 
• If children behave badly, don’t let them use the computer. 
• In the case of adolescents, these guidelines are also valid, but slowly increasing their autonomy according to their level of responsibility.

All this, bearing in mind the danger and tips previously explained in this blog and in your children’s educational environment.

Tell us your experience and whether you want us to focus further on a specific area.

Nerea Bezares -  eknowledge Department

Posted by David San José September 10, 2009

Look!

1. Your children need a bit of peace to use the Internet. Let them shut themselves in their room to search for information online and don’t dare interrupt them, they are probably studying and you surely don’t want to disturb them, do you?
2. Encourage your children to socialize with other people in chats, forums, social networks… but give them their space, you have nothing to fear, pedophiles don’t use technology…
3. Don’t install Web filtering software, let them access everything without restrictions. You are no dictator and your children are responsible enough so as to know which pages they should visit and which they shouldn’t.

No, we haven’t gone crazy… but if on reading this you have realized what you sometimes do regarding how and when your children access information online, we have achieved our goal.

We are not suggesting total Internet restriction for children. In the same way you teach them how to study, manage their money, use the telephone, etc. you should also teach them this aspect.

Remember:

1. The computer must be in the living room. The child should be accompanied by an adult that supervises the sites accessed every day.
2. In the same way you know their friends, get to know their Internet contacts. Tell them not to give out personal details, banking details, etc. 
3. Keep your antivirus up-to-date and the parental control enabled with the restrictions you think appropriate for their age.

In previous posts you can see the information we have published regarding Children’s security on the Internet:

• How safe is your password

Tell us about your experience and if you would like us to focus on a specific subject.

David San José