Welcome KSBJ Listeners: WebKinz & Club Penguin
ByThank you for listening to the Sunday Evening KSBJ Show with Ann Badger! And let me personal thank Ann for having me on the show. Ann rocks! Check out this post and the others regarding tonight’s (12/9) topic.
The emergence of WebKinz, Barbie Girls, Club Penguin and the likes are the latest manifestations of a new era in the Information Age called Web 2.0. It is the emergence of online communities. WebKinz, Club Penguin and their counterparts are the most popular offerings of Web 2.0 for tweens or preteens.
Both of these sites are safe for kids when using the standard or Ultimate Safe Chat and can be helpful in teaching kids. Though they may be safe, the real issue for parents and kids is time! A recent study by the Kaiser Foundation shows that kids age 8 to 14 spend an average of 45 hours a week behind the screen (IM, games, TV, etc). Wow! That’s a full time job!
Tweens or Preteens appears to be the latest American consumer market…numbering 29 million between the ages 8 and 14 (Reference). The culture is intentional in training and teaching our children how to be consumers. These technologies are the training grounds for online communities such as MySpace, Facebook, and SecondLife…that are without a doubt less safe for your children.
The question for you and for me is "What are our children consuming?" How much time do our kids spend with the culture through the screen versus the church or even Christ himself as known through the Scriptures. I am not advocating complete abstinence, but I am advocating parental responsibility. And how your child spends their time will determine the direction they will go.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero screen time for kids 2 and under and no more than 1 to 2 hours of screen time for older kids. What have you defined for your children. Take time this Christmas to consider the gifts you purchase? Do they contribute towards the consumption of culture or Christ?
For more info on Internet Safety click on the following page: Internet Safety
