Kids online

In fact, I’m really excited about the involvement of the internet and computers in our kids’ lives, learning and futures. It’s been a Godsend when it comes to homework – Google has helped me with Ella’s homework on more than one occasion!

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The future is online

I also love the addition of the internet to their learning at school. Google Classrooms is a great tool and the educational sites available now to accompany their classroom learning are perfect for those days where they want some screen time, but you don’t just want hours of mind-numbing games being played.

It’s so important for our kids to be computer literate, but at the same time it’s even more important for them to understand the risks associated with the internet. One of my teacher friends hosts regular internet safety talks for the parents at her school which I have been to and were a real eye-opener for me. If we, as parents, are aware of the risks facing kids online and how to mitigate these risks, we can pass on our knowledge to our children.

Limitless potential

The internet has limitless potential. They have an answer to every question right there at their fingertips as well as access to games, music, entertainment, research – and the list goes on. I was excited when my parents got the entire Encarta encyclopedia series on a CD Rom, my kids have that and so, so much more available at the click of a button.
If it is managed right, the internet will be a constant source of wonder for them. But as I previously talked about, it is up to us to manage our kids online.

Without the internet, a touch-typing course for a 9-year-old would have been impossible to find in Chiang Mai!

In order to succeed in life, our kids need to be tech-savvy. The world has moved online and not just online, but mobile. However, there can still, and should still, be a balance. Kids are still kids and should still run around, get dirty, ride bikes, swim, dance, paint, draw, read books, build and make. The internet should never take over from these practical and fun activities. It should be an addition to other activities in their life.