Guide
How do you childproof the Internet?
by Aurel Stevens
Using computers and the Internet with your children
20.3.2018
Translation: machine translated
Sometimes I wish the computer had never been invented - or at least, when I think about how much time we spend in front of it. As children, we did so many things with our parents. To teach your children how to use the computer properly, you can immerse yourself in the world of the Internet with them.
Here's what I say:
From my point of view, there are so many things a child can do, before sitting down in front of a computer. Nevertheless, the computer is nothing more than another activity in addition to Lego, Playmobil, Barbie, reading and playing outdoors. If a child knows how to keep busy and has friends, I think they can, from time to time also sit in front of the computer.
In primary school, for example, we had one hour of computing a week. It was like a bonus. It wasn't a prohibition and we never complained about only having one hour.
Of course, it was a bonus.
Of course, other rules need to be applied to children when, during puberty, Facebook, an iPod and/or a laptop are added to the meter. My advice is to set some rules so that your children don't get lost in the vastness of the internet.
10 ways to discover the Internet with your child
Video games
Buy a nice video game - there are so many out there - because young children shouldn't be left alone on the Internet. There are, for example, games where you can build a zoo and learn lots about animals and animal husbandry. Make sure the games are suitable for your children's age. On the internet, you can find lists of the best games according to age.
YouTube
On YouTube, you'll find fun videos for all the family. If you have children who are already a little older, experienced, allow them to show their favourite videos on YouTube. You can also search for advertising videos from your childhood - there are sure to be some funny ones. There are also bizarre resynchronisations of well-known film scenes.
How to find the best clips
On YouTube's homepage, you can see the most popular videos of the moment for each category. You can learn all sorts of things. For example playing a tune on a guitar or other instrument. You can also find videos on how to make beautiful hairstyles or fun cakes. But you can also learn to juggle, cook, film, etc.
If you feel like it, you can also shoot a short video and put it on YouTube. Maybe you'll even garner a few clicks over the next few days.
Skype
Do you have loved ones living abroad or in another city? How about getting in touch with them via Skype rather than phoning them.
E-Cards
There are some fun greeting cards where you can record your face with funny bodies. For example Elfyourself. Just trying out the different dances these elves do is really fun.
Google Earth
Wander the world! Take a trip around the world on the internet. Have you found your home? Grandma and grandpa's? The hotel you stayed in on holiday? With Google Earth, you can also dive down and see what's going on underwater. You can also look at historical images of the world. How about marking all the places you've been? There are 3D views of many cities. You can also watch sunrises and sunsets. If you've had enough of the earth, you can also set off to discover the moon.
Music
The internet is full of free programmes with which you can compose your own music. It's really easy. Become a composer with your children and create new sound worlds as you please.
Post questions
I'm always impressed that there's almost always an answer to every question on the internet - and almost a discussion underneath every answer. Just type a question into a search engine and see what comes up. Here are some examples of questions: "why don't birds hit each other when they fly?" or "why is the sea blue?", etc.
Images
I'm always impressed by the amount of images on the Net. Type, for example, "cat with hat" into your search engine and then click on "images". You'll immediately find hundreds of images. Do the test, you'll be surprised by the number of photos that appear.
Enter your name
Enter your name in the search field. Maybe you'll find other people with the same first and last name, or maybe someone has written an article about you in Wikipedia.
Create your own website
Do you want to create your own website? Or create a blog? There are plenty of free and relatively easy-to-use programs to do just that.
Closing Remarks
Sometimes the internet scares me. I feel so small and lost. Everything happens on the Net. You meet friends via social media, you learn to play the guitar, directories are obsolete, as are paper maps and encyclopaedias so beautiful and smelling of paper. Today, we can read, learn and do all sorts of things with the computer.
But, at the same time, I find all these things fascinating. Where are we going? Will we soon be shopping more than on the internet? Will we no longer write letters at all and meet fewer and fewer friends in real life? Can we still tell the difference between real friends and Facebook friends? How much do we really need the computer?
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope that your children learn to use the computer well and never forget that there is still so much to see outside the internet; in "real life".
Here's another article around the theme of the Internet and children
Arbenita Jashari
Junior Editor
arbenita.jashari@digitecgalaxus.chWhen it comes to office supplies, I believe in form and function. From pens, scissors, paper notes to glittery glue and funky folders. That’s what I’m about at work. When I’m not busy checking out the latest desk accessories, I enjoy jetting off to remote corners of the world, lifting weights or taking an evening walk.
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