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Overcoming Dangers of Unsupervised Internet, Video Game Access

Photo credit: AMERICANVIRUS via Flickr. See CC license.

The Mediatrician Counsels Parents to Dialogue with Kids

Unsupervised Internet access in a child’s room carries great risk for several reasons. For example, parents are unaware of what their child is viewing online and have fewer opportunities to communicate with their child about online experiences.

The Mediatrician (Dr. Michael Rich of Harvard’s Center on Media and Child Health) recently taught one parent how to handle the concern of unsupervised Internet access on a Playstation 3 that is in their son’s room. Dr. Rich’s counsel touches on each of iKeepSafe’s 3 KEEPs® of Internet safety:

  1. KEEP Current with technology.
  2. KEEP Communicating with your children about everything they experience on the Internet.
  3. KEEP Checking your children’s Internet activity.

Dr. Rich recommended this parent put the game console in a public space to provide an opportunity to play the game with their child. Doing so would allow the parent to learn about the newest technologies their child uses (KEEP Current), and thus more easily communicate with (KEEP Communicating) and check (KEEP Checking) the child’s Internet activity.

“Even if you don’t especially want to play those games, play anyway,” Dr. Rich said. “You’re not playing for fun, after all (although it may be fun!). Rather, you’re playing to gain a window into his world, which is a space where he has mastery. That means that he can teach you, which shows him that you respect his learning and his growing individuality. In addition, it opens the door for discussion about the content of the game.”

Dr. Rich also suggested that this parent gradually allow their son to “set limits on his own [game] use and balance it appropriately with other activities” so he will be better able to make good media choices when he leaves home.

We encourage you to read The Mediatrician’s entire statement and utilize our 3 KEEPs®.

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Categories: Physical Health

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