Privacy issues in using technology with young children - 5 views

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  #1 Diane Bales on 04 Mar 09

   

  As our class has been discussing technology with young children, the issue of protecting children's privacy has come up more than once. The question I have for this entire group is how to use new technologies to encourage children's literacy, build their self-confidence, and communicate with parents and other family members -- while still protecting children's privacy.
  
  Of course, careful teacher monitoring of what children are posting online is a key step. But there are other issues. Here are a few I can think of:
  --How early should we begin teaching internet safety to young children, and what kinds of messages should be taught to young children?
  --How can ECE professionals inform parents (who are at different levels of comfort and familiarity with technology themselves) about their children's use of technology, and how do you ensure that they are comfortable with what their children are doing online? Are there ways to help get them "on board" with the use of technology in early childhood?
  --How can we honor young children's need for privacy around web-based tools? How do we avoid "pushing" children who are not ready or comfortable using technology, while still encouraging them?
  
  Any thoughts on privacy issues would be welcome. I don't have good answers to these questions. Do any of you who are teachers have ideas to share?

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">As our class has been discussing technology with young children, the issue of protecting children's privacy has come up more than once. The question I have for this entire group is how to use new technologies to encourage children's literacy, build their self-confidence, and communicate with parents and other family members -- while still protecting children's privacy. <br /> <br /> Of course, careful teacher monitoring of what children are posting online is a key step. But there are other issues. Here are a few I can think of: <br /> --How early should we begin teaching internet safety to young children, and what kinds of messages should be taught to young children? <br /> --How can ECE professionals inform parents (who are at different levels of comfort and familiarity with technology themselves) about their children's use of technology, and how do you ensure that they are comfortable with what their children are doing online? Are there ways to help get them "on board" with the use of technology in early childhood? <br /> --How can we honor young children's need for privacy around web-based tools? How do we avoid "pushing" children who are not ready or comfortable using technology, while still encouraging them? <br /> <br /> Any thoughts on privacy issues would be welcome. I don't have good answers to these questions. Do any of you who are teachers have ideas to share?</div>

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