Should 5 year old be online?

[temi]

It is quite interesting that safety adverts are now targetted at children aged 5 in this except from BBC:

Children as young as five are being targeted in a new online safety campaign backed by the government.
The campaign uses cartoons to show five to seven-year-olds that people are not always what they seem.
It is thought 80% of children in this age group use the web and one-in-five parents of this age group worry about who their children contact online.
Experts say that by raising awareness of web risks at an early age, children will be better protected.

The crusial question here is, should children that young be online?

[kappa84]

Temi, come on , a child that age should be outside, playing with his friend/father/brother..My humble opinion is that children must spend more and more time outside, the online environment is a killing spree for them, they are at ages when they can't realize how bad is to spend hours and hours in front of a computer.

And most of all, those years never come back, so time for being online there's a lot, but for spending how you should those early stages from your childhood, time will step by like the wind blows.

Kids, go outside and play more!

My 2$.

[temi]

I could not agree more, I am actually shocked anyone will let a 5 year old us the internet let alone 80% of the entire popluation of 5 year olds.

[kappa84]

80% is indeed incredible. Hope they're wrong, though I doubt it could be, I see every day incredibly little children talking about online environment like talking about toys or what we used to talk when we were their ages.

Frankly, I feel pity for them. One thing is sure, my child won't spend his childhood like this. No sir!

[jaikanth123]

I think so.if 5 year old is online, then he would misuse the website.he does not know regarding forums and it would be a problem

[seet]

A 5 year old child should definitely not use the internet. There are so many things a child can do beside spending time in front of the computer, especially on the internet. I totally agree with kappa. They should be outside, playing and enjoying themselves because childhood passes quickly...

[DavidAmerland]

Interesting post Temi and, obviously, controversial. The real question should be is there any age at which you should start giving your children the advantage they need in order to get on in the world they will live in? Computer skills and familiarisation with the web are part and parcel of what they need. Given the fact that a study released about eight years ago which suggested that parents whose unborn children, when exposed to classical music, were more intelligent than average, led to an explosion of classical CD sales, it is obvious that starting as young as possible makes sense.

There are already 'My first computer' toys which are basic computers aimed at ages as young as 3 so to withhold the web from 5 year olds simply on 'grown up' moralising is to be disingenuous.

Yes, the web is not without its risks. Yes, a 5 year old cannot possibly be expected to have the experience to deal with them. Yes, also, a 5 year old needs to start learning basic web skills. This then puts the responsibility squarely in our court as adults. The real question here should be: "Should a 5 year old surf the web unsupervised?" - No. Adults here need to step up and do their part and any answer short of that is neither thought out clearly nor is it designed to really help young children make the most of their life.

[Bob Barr]

A 5 year old child should definitely not use the internet. There are so many things a child can do beside spending time in front of the computer, especially on the internet. I totally agree with kappa. They should be outside, playing and enjoying themselves because childhood passes quickly...

I'd have to disagree there. IMHO, allowing a child, even as young as five, a limited amount of properly supervised time on the internet can be very beneficial to their growing up in today's world.

Please notice my two qualifiers: By limiting their time at the computer, they'll still have plenty of time available for outdoor activities. Also, by properly supervising their internet use, the parents can both protect the child from dangerous situations and teach them how to use the internet properly.

[nicolasthun]

I also think it is okay to let a 5 year old spent a little supervised time on the internet. Because there is today just no world without internet. So it is an important tool a child should get familiar with. But also a kid should play outside or with toys.

[JohnnyBoyClub]

They should run and play outside and not use the computer for atleast 14 years old , my oppinion ,