I would like to share Part 1 of the following article with you from esafety.gov.au regarding children and internet usage.

Are they old enough?                                        

How to navigate key online milestones for your child

Parents and carers play a key role in guiding their children as they first encounter the online world and begin to learn through exploration, play and social interaction.

When is your child old enough to take their first online steps and begin to explore on their own? It is a good idea to protect younger children from online risks such as encountering harmful content, contact with strangers or missing out on physical activity. But it is up to you to decide when and how they take these first steps, and how best to support them as they begin their online journey.

eSafety research insights

81% of parents with preschoolers say their children use the internet. Of these parents, 94% report that their child was using the internet by the age of 4.

This might be via a tablet or iPad (92%), a smartphone (85%) or a computer (83%).

Should your preschooler be using online devices?

Children often have access to connected devices like tablets and smartphones from a very young age. They might be watching a favourite program through streaming services, using educational apps or simply viewing photos with your family and friends.

If you set some rules, manage access and stay involved, there is no reason why your preschooler should not enjoy the benefits of being online. 

How much time should my child spend online?

There is no magic figure. The right amount of time that children should spend online is debated, with recent research suggesting the evidence of harm relating to screen time is overstated. Choosing the right amount of screen time for your preschooler will depend on the individual needs of your child and your family.

When deciding how much time your preschooler should spend online, consider the following factors:

• your child’s age and their maturity level
• their individual learning needs
• your family’s routine
• your level of involvement and interaction with them while they are online
• the quality and nature of what they are doing online

It can be easy to focus only on the amount of time spent online, but the quality of the online media they are engaging with, and your involvement and interaction with them while they are using online media, is just as important.

For example, a five-year-old can get a lot out of spending 30 minutes creating an artwork on a screen together with you. An activity like this, involving the imaginative use of shape and colour, can help them to develop their fine motor and conversational skills.

Our guide to managing time online for parents and carers can help you work out a healthy balance across your child’s online and offline activities. It also includes the signs to watch out for if your child’s online activities may be having a negative impact on them.

How do I choose age-appropriate content?

Good-quality media can support your child’s learning, especially if it ties in with their interests or sparks their imagination.

The following sites can help you make informed decisions about your family’s entertainment choices.

• Check age ratings and consumer advice for apps and games on devices your children use: via the App Store or Google Play, and for movies and games, the Australian Classification Board’s online database
• Raising Children Network has advice about choosing video games, online games and apps
• NetAware (UK)offers a guide to popular social media apps, sites and games, including risks, age recommendations and safety tips
• The Australian Council on the Children and the Media provides reviews of movies, apps and games, including gambling content advice, searchable by age and platform
• Commonsense Media (US)offers a database of apps, games and websites searchable by age

Information sourced from:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/are-they-old-enough