Move over mummybloggers, here come the kids! Would you let your kids set up a blog?

[EditorJumpMag]

Keep the kids amused this summer with their own blog.

The past months have seen more and more kids (and schools) start their own blogs. It is great for kids to be able to do something safe online, where you can moderate comments and let them express themselves.

They will need an email address (preferably one that you check regularly) and an account with Google or Wordpress, then they can choose a blog and username.

I have written a post on Jump! Mag to explain how to set up a blog, on the two main blogging websites, including adding photos and videos and how to protect your child from spam, trolls etc.

They can then write about their holidays, about their hobbies, their pets, whatever they want to write about.

Would you (or do you) let your kids blog?

Hi

I actually think its a good idea (although at 2 and 4 mine are still a bit young). When I was younger we were encouraged to keep a diary of what we did in the holidays so a blog would be the modern version of this. Its also a great way to keep up with what their friends are up to in the holidays and share ideas for things to do and places to go.

I think if my children did this when they were older my only conditions would be that they didn't post photos of themselves or give out too many personal details. I would also see if I could get the comments sent to my email address so that if there were any nasty ones I could moderate them first.

I love Jump! by the way - really good to see something interesting for girls out there. My little girl is only 4 but have looked at a couple of the science articles with her (she loves science) and she has enjoyed them.

yes I would let my ds blog, but only if it was interesting, well written, and updated regularly.

Hertfordshiremummy
Yes, it is one of the reasons that we have a strict comment moderation policy on Jump! Mag, to make sure that a) the girls don't share info that would compromise their privacy and safety and b) trolls don't post horrible stuff where the readers could see it. You can set up the comment moderation so that a parent receives the email and can review and publish comments. I would definitely recommend this.

I don't allow my DC to post pics of themselves or their friends online either. There are good ways of still being able to share pics without a full face shot.

Am glad that your DD is already reading Jump! and enjoying it. She might be our youngest reader. :)

OMDB
Good point. It is a great exercise for the DC, but only worthwhile when they put a bit of effort into it.

Would be great if some schools could encourage this kind of thing as part of the schoolwork. It is a good way of getting DC who are not so keen on writing to put words on a screen.

Kids blogging isn't really a new thing though, I was doing it 10 years ago and I'm sure there will be loads who were doing it 15+ years ago as kids and teens. It's just that since NeverSeconds, the adults in society have started to take notice of kids blogging and kids are realising that they have a platform that will be taken seriously now.

FWIW, I think it's great though :)

That is true - although the first blog from a child that I read was Libdemchild, not NeverSeconds.

And the experience of the girls who have written for Jump! Mag showed me how many girls would benefit from having an outlet for their creativity. A lot of the mums have commented how it boosted their daughter's self-confidence when they wrote for Jump! Mag.

My kids both blog, I think it's great for literacy skills and creativity. Though they do it via my Wordpress account - I set up the blog and then added my daughter as a contributor. My son is only 9 so he does it all via my account and though he has his own email address it doesn't appear on there.

The main problem I have found is from spam comments, though Wordpress is very good at picking up on them, so the majority of them we don't see. It did let through a couple of sweary ones and a few that were just plain nasty. So now I have turned off email notifications of comments and only I get notified via my phone.

My ds is only just 6, but he's really enjoying contributing to our Sprog Blog over the past few weeks - he dictated, and I typed.

As he's struggling with writing at school, it's helped him to work on longer sentences, spelling and grammar, which he can't do when writing with a pencil.

I have struggled with how much info about the kids to share online, and felt a bit nervous at first, but it's given him a real confidence boost being able to go into school and have the class look at his blog post.

Joanne
Akismet is great for spam control (on WP).

I have all comments directed to my email account just in case but setting it up to a mobile is a good idea.

I agree that the creativity of the children is increased by blogging.

Pasta
I like your website and enjoyed the SprogBlog.