Newswise — As many parents buy new computers and other technology this holiday season, it's important that they keep their children safe and help them maximize learning.
Studies show that many children spend almost as much time on social networking online as they do watching television. Research also shows that technology promotes learning and can be used to leverage interest in reading, writing and math.
The following tips have been created from the National Center for Family Literacy's work with the Verizon Foundation and partnership in the Tech Savvy Awards, the first national awards to honor programs that improve parents and children's understanding and use of technology.
"It's important to help parents bridge the widening gap between adults' and children's understanding of technology," said Sharon Darling, president & founder of NCFL. "Those two generations must learn about technology together, so parents can be effective teachers and advocates to ensure that their children are literate in technology and prepared for the 21st century workforce."
Here are some ways to maximize learning while using technology and making sure your children stay safe:
"¢ Spend time online with your children. Talk to them about potential threats and help them find child-friendly sites. Make sure the computer is in the family room or kitchen rather than their bedroom. In addition, find out what parental controls are offered through your Internet service provider. Other tips can be found at http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm.
"¢ Show your work. Remember when your math teacher asked you to show your work when you solved problems? This is still good practice, especially when your child is doing research using the Internet. Ask him to show you the websites he used when he found information for a school project. Look at the sites together and talk about how your child knows the information is reliable and accurate. For example, can you tell from the website who the author of the information is? If so, what are the author's qualifications? Can you find the date that the information was written or posted?
"¢ What are you talking about? Kids have many outlets for creative expression these days, and one of the most popular is called social networking—sites that encourage peer-to-peer communication. What is your child doing when she blogs? She's offering her opinion on something that's important to her. In fact, many children use social networking sites to talk about homework. There are two things you can do to ensure healthy social networking. First and foremost, teach your child safe Internet practices and find out what sites they like to visit. Then, ask your child what she's writing about—what's important to her right now—or ask her to show you how you can join her social networking "circle" so you can see when she updates her messages.
"¢ Knowledge builds knowledge. One of the most important things that help children as they're learning to read and ultimately, reading to learn, is having background knowledge. The Internet is a great place to build your child's understanding of the world. A simple search on a keyword that interests your child—dinosaurs, ecology, sports cars, Paris fashion—will get you and your child started on a journey of discovery.
Additional safety tips and activities can be found at Thinkfinity.org.
The National Center for Family Literacy, the worldwide leader in family literacy, has raised more than $115 million for literacy efforts since its founding in 1989. More than 1 million families have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL's work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers. For more information, contact 1-877-FAMLIT-1 or visit www.famlit.org.
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