Hyper-Connected Children
The figures speak for themselves: 34% of CM2 students have
their own smartphone, rising to 65% after entering 6th. A craze that
questions many parents, worried about the potential risks associated with the
use of new technologies: cyberstalking, pornography, but also delays in
language development and socio-emotional learning, fatigue and irritability,
overweight and obesity, mental disorders such as depression or difficulty
concentrating, etc.
Result: parental control applications abound. Not only do
they make it possible to restrict access to sites or applications and reduce
usage times, but they also allow you to consult your messages, the history of
your browser. What reassure families, but this can cause problems, excessive behavior
on the part of parents and frustrations in children. After all, they too have
their right to their share of privacy.
Explain the Dangers to Better Avoid Them
For parents, it is nevertheless essential to make children
and teenagers aware of the reasoned use of screens, both in quantity and in the
nature of the content and services consumed.
It is now quite possible to configure devices to limit
risks, in particular via parental control tools or simply turning off Wi-Fi at
night. Of course, this does not replace support and teaching adapted to the child's
age: a little one under should not watch a screen alone, but always accompanied
by an adult! The idea is to have a discussion about what was seen in order to
avoid passive “hypnotic” consumption. Screen time is also important, and it
should be limited, but how to consume the screen is key, especially among
younger people.
Clear Rules to Cultivate Their Autonomy
However, connected devices are not enemies, quite the
contrary. Used properly, they are valuable educational tools as well as toys
with multiple possibilities. It's all about balance! The good idea: a clever
mix of surveillance and empowerment based on clear and fair rules. It is
advisable to take action from an early age to set up routines that empower
children to use screens and the Internet. They can obviously evolve over time,
individual needs and sensitivities: authorized / prohibited applications, Wi-Fi
shutdown times, time spent on screens. Objective: to get the child to
self-regulate by setting a clear and fair framework, within which he will be
autonomous.
To maximize the chances of success, the choice of words and
how to present these restrictions are fundamental:
It is essential to introduce these rules not as sanctions,
but as protection use total
security software on all the home devices. It's something that must be
positive and presented as such: it allows you to avoid bad online dating, to
post things that you would later regret, but it also means having more time to
go out and see friends. , draw, make music.
Among the best practices that cannot be ignored: banning
electronic devices from the bedroom at night. Indeed, the mere presence of
devices, even turned off, is enough to disturb the sleep of children and
teenagers. Here, the will is not involved: if they wake up during the night,
they are tempted to use them and even if they do not, the idea parasitizes the
mind and prevents them from going back to sleep peacefully. And sometimes the
temptation is just too strong.
Screens can be learned!
Some Tips for Efficient and Reasonable Supervision
Secure
use
Explain the risks to your children (for example, pornography
or cyberstalking), and teach them to recognize and avoid risky situations. Do
not victimize them: explain to them that they must behave responsibly to
protect themselves, but also to protect others.
Use best parental control tools of best total
security software wisely, to limit access to certain sites and apps, but
not to read your children's messages. Respect for their privacy is important!
If you suspect problematic use or harassment, speak to them and ask if they'd
be okay with showing you their messages. If he refuses, do not hesitate to talk
to a child psychiatrist.
Help
them to self-regulate in their use
Ban electronic devices from rooms at night.
Outside of authorized periods of use, store devices in a
drawer.
For
the little ones
For 3-5 year old's: don't let them use a screen alone, and
discuss together what is happening on the screen.
Before 3 years old, it is not recommended to let children
use screens of any kind.
Comments
Post a Comment