Internet Safety Part 3

Finally, before we say goodbye to this very interesting topic (see the two posts below, latecomers): Numerous surveys and studies have shown that parents tend to vastly underestimate the amount of time their own children spend on the computer and in front of the TV, and how much violence they are exposed to onscreen.

If you think your child spends "hardly any time online" and "doesn't watch much TV", look again. Be honest with yourself, and as so many readers have advised, keep the lines of communication open. Both ways!

Thanks for being so involved here, guys. Let's keep this going in comments as long as new information and ideas turn up. And now, back to your regular scheduled programming!

Comments

Unknown said…
Kids that grow up with little or no parental guidance - Kids that grow up in homes where the TV and the 'Computer' are used as babysitters - Kids who's parents are uninvolved with the day-to-day experience of their children's existence - are the kids most at risk. YOUR kids don't fit in any of those categories. YOUR kids are amazing.
Nan Sheppard said…
I agree, I think they're pretty amazing too!
Amazing, and verbal, and communicative, and (believe it or not) listening to you deeply. So, good for you for talking to them and setting aside time for them to talk to you.
i am the diva said…
remember growing up when there was only ever cartoons on Saturday morning? And they were over by 11...

remember playing in parks, and flying kites, and hide and seek...
Nan Sheppard said…
Yeah, TV used to "Sign off", and you HAD to go build a cart to race down the hill around breakneck speeds, with a "spotter" at the blind corner to yell at the cars to slow down...

Our dangers weren't less, just very different!
Anonymous said…
I think this is SO true...it's easy to lose track of their screen time when they're quiet and not bugging you. But I know I will pay for too much TV/computer. That's why we ended up leaving the house Sunday afternoon and going bowling as a family!