Updates

Everything can be found on the Internet! Learning to search the Internet is a very important skill for young people. There is so much knowledge in the world today and most of it can be found in ONE place – the Internet! From web pages to forums, social media sites, Pinterest groups, blogs, videos, the Internet is full of information! Even if one types a question into a social media site, many people will probably reply with help (they call it “crowd sourcing”). Everyone can search – It is easy! Just type anything into any search bar, and one can Continue Reading

YouTube Children love the endless choices they have on the platform. From games & music videos to Running Man, there are so much to look forward to. And you do not have to search very hard! Recommendations, special channels, email alerts are pushed to every user. We are entertained whenever, wherever and whatever! “There is never a boring moment nor an end to the show!” WhatsApp Who can resist the excitement of chatting with friends & classmates, sharing jokes and videos, all through the FREE app? Group chats help children stay in touch. Every WhatsApp alert sends a shot of excitement and makes us wonder Continue Reading

“How much can a stranger find out about my child online?” Search for your child’s name in the following sites. What did you find? What can you find? 1.    Facebook 2.    Google.com 3.    YouTube I searched my teenage girl and found her information on a few social media websites: Facebook. Google+,  YouTube, Prezi and Pinterest. From these pages combined, anyone can collect her personal information such as: 1.     Primary & Secondary school 2.    “10 things about her” 3.    Gender 4.    Date of birth 5.    Relationship status 6.    Email address 7.    Her profile picture 8.    A photo of her classmates Continue Reading

“Is your child using Social Media to Interact with Online Strangers?”​ Practically every single Internet user in the world uses social media platforms today. 1.    Toddlers watching YouTube 2.    Preschoolers huddling over multiplayer Minecraft games 3.    Primary school children sharing photos & chatting over WhatsApp 4.    Early teens consuming & sharing content on Facebook. It was not too long ago when parents probably adhered to age restrictions on social media platforms more tightly. Different social media platforms have different age limits for registered users. For most platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram & Tumblr), users need to declare that they are 13 Continue Reading

“School’s out & Holidays are in! Where is your child heading this vacation?” A quick scan of the top gaming websites indicate widespread entertainment options in the June holidays, ranging from tournaments in League of Legends & Blackshot, special events in Maple Story, crowds of children on Growtopia and the every-popular Minecraft & Clash of Clans. In fact, the most attractive “holiday” for many young children is not any exotic destination; rather they are virtual worlds quickly accessible through computers & mobile devices. How can parents engage children meaningfully during holidays? What can parents to do help their children diversify Continue Reading

What is your child doing when he uses devices and “screens”? Are there ways to choose “better” screen time? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend less than 2 hours of daily screen time for primary school children. It goes on to state that these should be “high-quality content”.   How can parents choose “high quality content”? How can parents improve the “quality of screen time” for our children? (1) Choose interactive screen time In general, interactive screen time will provide better stimulation and learning compared to passive reception. Examples of passive screen time will be TV and videos Examples of Continue Reading

When will your kids get their own smartphones and iPads? At which age do you think children can manage their usage of these devices? Seven year-old Jaycen is glued to his iPad, watching Stampy YouTube videos (live commentaries on Minecraft). He seems oblivious to what is happening around him. Three other kids nearby are similarly glued to their devices as their parents interact. In a corner of the house, a lone toddler plays with toy cars with his caregiver. Smartphones and devices usually dominate the attention of children once they lay their hands on it. When they become their personal Continue Reading

In recent years, mobile Internet devices have become primary entertainment options for children. In particular, today’s primary school children probably started playing games and watching videos from their pre-school days. Data from EU Kids Online shows that about 30% children own a game console before they enter primary school. Similarly close to 10% have their own mobile phone. Kingmaker Consultancy’s research on a sample of 445 children in 2014 shows an average of about 30 to 45hrs per week of screen time for upper primary students. This works out to between 4 to 6hrs daily. While the quality of screen time Continue Reading