should 9yr old be allowed unsupervised access to computer?

Welshwoofs

zaksmum wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I know I could put the parental controls in place but really I believe "No" should suffice. And as Splank says, you can still get dodgy stuff even with them.

There can be all sorts of inappropriate chat and contact on sites that are specifically for kids because, guess what, sex predators who are interested in kids target kids' sites.

The Internet is not a nanny and children of that age should be supervised. If you don't want to supervise I'd suggest using software like http://www.eblaster.com/ that will do a nice job of recording all their keystrokes, sites visited, emails in etc and sending them to you in an easy-to-read report.

zaksmum

Well I'm just saying no. I can willingly supervise up to a point but can't be spending hours watching what he's up to.

Of course I can't expect him to understand that I'm trying to protect him - he's had a Facebook account of his own for several years now - and thinks the world of computers and internet is there for him to do as he pleases with!

poppy10_2

zaksmum wrote: »

he's had a Facebook account of his own for several years now

Well, he shouldn't have. Delete it.

http://www.facebook.com/help/210644045634222/

Welshwoofs

zaksmum wrote: »

Well I'm just saying no. I can willingly supervise up to a point but can't be spending hours watching what he's up to.

That's fine, but please don't blame the service provider if he encounters some situation that frightens him or places him in danger. The responsibility for what he sees is yours.

Of course I can't expect him to understand that I'm trying to protect him - he's had a Facebook account of his own for several years now - and thinks the world of computers and internet is there for him to do as he pleases with!

Don't children think they can do pretty much as they please with anything? Isn't it the role of the parent to set the boundaries?


BTW - my work is in online child safety and I could show you chat logs that would make your toes curl....everything from sex predators (not necessarily pedophiles, but also from kids who have 'fractured' backgrounds and act out some pretty hardcore things), to particularly nasty cyber-bullying to encouragements to do everything from commit suicide to take part in illegal activities. After what I've seen in the last 16 years there is no way in hell I would allow a young child on the Net unsupervised and I honestly hope you don't have to learn the hard way.

sammy_wheeler

zaksmum wrote: »

Well I'm just saying no. I can willingly supervise up to a point but can't be spending hours watching what he's up to.
Well he shouldn't be spending hours on it- give them better entertainment than computers/xbox etc

Of course I can't expect him to understand that I'm trying to protect him - he's had a Facebook account of his own for several years now - and thinks the world of computers and internet is there for him to do as he pleases with!

Well he shouldn't be spending hours on it- give them better entertainment than computers/xbox etc
well you are not allowed a facebook until you are over the age of 13- so!!!!
plus if he thinks that then you need you educate

kingfisherblue

I would set up a user account for each child and add parental controls. I would also supervise usage by popping in and out to see what they are up to, and I would read parental supervision reports. I would explain why I was doing this, and if they don't like it, they don't use the computer.

I have, in the last hour, revised parental settings for my 13 year old and allowed him a separate account from his brother. They did share an account called 'The Boys', but my older son is disabled and needs the parental controls set at a lower age than his brother. I will still be supervising and checking reports about my younger son's usage, though, and any abuse of it means no computer.

In addition to sexual predators, there are other dangers on the internet, such as cyber bullying. I am responsible for my children's computer usage and keeping them safe. They might not always like the fact that I can be quite strict, but they aren't going to change me. I am in charge of this, not my children.

zaksmum

poppy10 wrote: »

Well, he shouldn't have. Delete it.

http://www.facebook.com/help/210644045634222/

Unfortunately I can't delete it - I have no say in the matter. That's down to his mum and dad and they do know how I feel but certainly won't take any notice!

It seems "everybody" has a Facebook account at that age...!

miduck

zaksmum wrote: »

Unfortunately I can't delete it - I have no say in the matter. That's down to his mum and dad and they do know how I feel but certainly won't take any notice!

It seems "everybody" has a Facebook account at that age...!

If he uses it at your house you can!

pipkin71

I have parental controls on the childrens laptops and have allowed them unsupervised access to the internet.

I have had no issues. The children are aware that I monitor what they have accessed and that we have an element of trust which, if abused would see instant removal.

This has worked for us and we have had no issues. It wouldn't necessarily work for everyone so you have to go with gut instinct as parents and do what you feel is right.

zaksmum

miduck wrote: »

If he uses it at your house you can!

How can I? I don't have Facebook myself and he certainly wouldn't give me his password!