Benefits of the Internet:
Thus, I will briefly summarize the benefits of Internet use by your children.
1) It allows them to find rich, cultural and educational information readily. Sites like www.howstuffworks, www.cnn.com, www.discovery.com, www.pbs.org are great sites for both up-to-date news and educational content. Other subjects can include sports, weather, shopping, health, information on local schools and governments and what is happening around the world.
2) One of the greatest benefits your children will see is they can now communicate with their friends in every possible way and interact with them. Technologically, they will be able to “talk” with their peers in every conceivable way whether it is via email, instant messaging via their cell or computer or share pictures and ideas from social network sites such as www.myspace.com. It gives them a feeling of belonging and helps them form who they are. Of course, there can be extremes to these cases and you will, consequently, need to monitor their usage.
3) Your children will be able to keep not only in touch with their friends online locally but they can communicate with relatives half-way around the world. They can keep in touch with their grandparents, cousins or friends from overseas and simultaneously talk and view with them live. Things like this were not possible even ten years ago.
4) Of course, children love to play their favorite computer game. This doesn’t necessarily the extreme, violent games. The benefit to your children could be the educational computer games. Many games are interactive and have great learning elements to them.
5) Access to up-to-date news and information, what is happening in the world and what events that are going on locally are important for your children’s development and learning. It gets them involved in the world and the Internet may answer many questions they have.
6) They will develop essential IT and other job-related skills. 7) They can collaborate on school projects, make new friends online as penpals, learn good netiquette rules and so much more.
So what are some of the risks to your children when they are online and you are away at work or in the other room watching television or cooking? If you have a Teenager in your household you may wish to call 1800-843-5678 for a copy of “Teen Safety on the Information Highway” or visit www.safeteens.com.