Safety at Your Fingertips
Created By: Lisa Bell, Ashley Jorgensen, and Jacklyn Kram
Let's Be Positive!
With technology advancing so quickly and it being implemented in classrooms as young as Pre-K, we need to know our facts when it comes to our children using technology. There are many pros, such as staying in touch with long distance relatives, and cons, such as being exposed to graphic sites. Regardless, technology is all around and therefore it is important to stay educated about its use. Video games such as Just Dance and Wipe Out Create & Crash allow children to still use technology but keep them active at the same time. Skype can keep loved ones connected. Phones allow children to send their parents the address where they need to be picked up. Technology can create a positive influence on children by allowing them to connect and make friends in healthy ways. It can also be used as a social tool for today’s youth who feel isolated because there are outlets where you feel you can actually be yourself unlike in the “real world”. There are many useful Apps, Websites, and Games that can help our children but there are also dangers in using technology so it is important to know your facts!
Get In The Know
Staying Safe
When talking to your children about safely accessing the internet you must have more than one way to approach your child. Many children admit to accessing certain websites from a friends computer who does not have limitations. Prohibiting the usage of internet is not enough anymore so there are few topics parents should go over with their children: Talk to your children, Develop rules, Explore the internet, Talk with others, Connect with School, and Educate yourself. Keeping your child aware of the risks while using technology is important as well as allowing them to explore in a safe manner. It is inevitable that children in today’s world will be exposed to technology at some point in their life. It is our job as educators and parents to teach them the safe ways of using technology.
Interviews
Myra Blevans- Parent
Myra Blevans is a mother of two who lives locally in the Flathead Valley. Her children are 6 months and 8 years old, she experiences first hand with her oldest daughter how to inform her on using technology safely. Jacklyn Kram interviewed her to see what her take on children using technology was.
Q: What measures would you take to make sure that your children are informed of the dangers of technology?
A: I believe keeping an open door and always talking to them about the dangers of technology. Communication is such a huge deal between parents and children and always keeping an open mind and making sure they can come to you with anything and that they trust what you're relaying to them regarding the matter.
Q: What are some of your fears of children having access to technology basically everywhere?
A: I fear the inappropriate things they will come across on the web. There is a site for every single thing imaginable. Just the access of the web in general because of the sites with adult content, drug and suicide influences that our children shouldn't even be exposed to at such a young age. I fear it will easily take over their minds and distract them from the real world when they could be enjoying life outside of our devices.
Q: Do you believe that the amount of time children spend on technology should be monitored? Why?
A: Most definitely. It is common sense that a child would choose playing video games, texting, playing on the computer opposed to having to open a book and actually put forth an effort at something. I do not agree with just letting them sit on devices for hours because it also leads to a sedentary lifestyle. They need these limitations because there is so much more to enjoy in life.
Q: What do you believe we, as parents, can do to better educate ourselves when it comes to children using technology?
A: Knowing when to set limits and boundaries. Being aware and alert of what's out there and knowing there is a possibility they could come across something inappropriate.
Don Bell- Sheriff of Lake County
Lisa Bell interviewed Sheriff Don Bell about potential safety issues in regards to children and technology. Don Bell is the Sheriff of Lake County, and he deals with a large number of crimes involving exploited children. He has been serving as a police officer for 23 years. The following interview questions and answers are a summary of the interview.
Q: What sites/ internet presence do you see as dangerous to children?
A: Chat rooms or social media if not monitored. Any place where a child can talk to or interact with other people that they don’t personally know.
Q: Do you feel as though there is any safe use of technology for children?
A: Definitely. Facetime and skype allows families to stay in better touch. Google allows us to have access to more information in seconds than we’ve had in our lifetimes. And with technology only becoming more integrated in our daily lives, it’s important that children are familiar and comfortable with it.
Q: What are some potential dangers you see from children using technology?
A: Putting themselves in danger. There are a lot of dishonest people in the world and it’s easy to manipulate children of this age to believe and do things they might not normally do.
Q: How would you protect your own children from technology?
A: Setting limits and boundaries, and then educating and communicating with children can help a lot. Also, using the filters and monitoring usage of all technology is important too. Finally, keeping the technology usage in the main living areas can be a deterrent as well.
Q: What are some resources that parents or educators could use to find out more information?
A: Schools have Student Resource Officers that are very knowledgeable in these issues. That is a great place to start with any issue. From there, you can find anything on the internet if you know how to search :)
Danelle Keeler- Early Childhood Educator
Danelle Keeler is a caregiver at Wee Little Barin’s. She has been working with children for almost two years. Ashley Jorngenson interviewed her about how she felt about having technology in the classroom and if she had technology in her classroom, what kind does she use.
Q:How long do you think children ages 3-12 should have screen time with educational activities?
A:3-6 year olds should have less than an hour.
A:7-9 years olds an hour and a half to two hours maybe.
A:10-12 two hours to two and a half hours. I gave this group the most because they may have homework online.
Q:Do you feel children use technology to much in everyday life?
A:Yes, most children who have all kinds of technology are always on it and showing it to their friends and letting them play. Instead of coming up with a game to play inside or outside children are inside playing on a tablet or watching tv or playing a video game.
Q:Do you use technology in the classroom? If so, what kind of technology do you use?
A:We have popcorn movie day on Friday to end the week
Q:What age do you think children should be able to use technology on their own without teachers help.
A:I feel that by 10 years old children can use technology without teacher help. But teachers still need to be their to make sure that the children are being safe.
Q:Do you think children ages 3-12 should learn how to use technology in a safe way?
A:Yes the younger you start teaching them the better.
Explore
“NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be more safe on- and offline. The program is designed for children ages 5-17, parents and guardians, educators, and law enforcement. With resources such as videos, games, activity cards, and presentations, NetSmartz entertains while it educates.”
“The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. We advance diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on the behalf of young children.” (NAEYC)
“The mission of the Future of Children is to translate the best social science research about children and youth into information that is useful to policymakers, practitioners, grant-makers, advocates, the media, and students of public policy. The project publishes two journals and policy briefs each year, and provides various short summaries of our work. Topics range widely – from income policy to family issues to education and health – with children’s policy as the unifying element.”(Future of Children)
Screen time for Kids, found on the BabyCenter website is an article that lays out the basics for parents of young children. In this article, one will find the risks and concerns, as well as solutions to children using technology. This website also offers facts and statistics regarding different aspects of technology and the consequences of it.
The Impact of Technology on Developing Child
A great article on the child’s developing mind and body and the effects that technology has on their growing minds. This article does a great job in showing us the positive and negative effects technology can have on our youth.