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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

networking for 6yr olds at school

68 replies

meercat30 · 08/12/2010 00:37

My young son came home from school ecstatic having just spent an afternoon in an IT lesson learning about Super clubs . Great. I was eager to learn more.
It soon became apparent that Super clubs is basically the start of social networking for 6 to 12 year olds and that you can win points to build your own personal web page (without pictures).
He was so taken with the site, and wanted to start contacting his friends straight away.

There was a slight problem with this request, as my son is not allowed to be anyway involved with social networking until he has a fully formed individual.

Of course he is mortally upset as peer pressure to join in, came in the form of a phone call an hour later.

Enticing young children to win points get a web page is rather strange?

What exactly is super club trying to achieve with this site? what are the motives?

How did you manage to get schools to accept this?

OP posts:
MrManager · 08/12/2010 00:40

This is the world now. To the younger generations, i.e. under 25, not having a Facebook page is like not having a phone number.

6 is young, but if he's learning to read and write he should also be learning to use a computer. A social networking practice page seems like a pretty good idea, as they can teach what's suitable to put up there.

Absurdia · 08/12/2010 00:54

YABU

Unless you are suggesting that your son should be a fully formed individual before he speaks to anyone else.
Come to that, you are also BU if you are suggesting that your son is not a fully formed individual.

Learning to use computers is important.
Understanding how to be safe online is vital.
Connecting with friends and expressing yourself through a webpage or email is a good way to do both those.

Original poster
meercat30 · 08/12/2010 00:57

This is the world of ads, and captured data, I agree, but I want my son to experience real relationships in real life first.

OP posts:
catsinthejinglebelfry · 08/12/2010 01:00

school should encourage IT skills but not social networking for 6 yos. School needs to be spoken to to explain what they are doing. Not appropriate.

Absurdia · 08/12/2010 01:00

You didn't mention that there were adverts on the site.

I agree that software designed for use in schools should not have adverts.

Absurdia · 08/12/2010 01:01

Out of interest cats, why shouldn't schools encourage social networking?

GotArt · 08/12/2010 01:04

I agree meercat30. It seems a bit odd to have it geared towards such a young age group, especially with the rise of obesity and sloth in children these days due to excessive media. Its the 'capture them while their young, and they'll be customers for life'. It is very much a part of our lives today though and parents need to be vigilant with rules regarding using these types of media's. I'd suggest just monitor while he is on it, and only allow a set length of time.

catsinthejinglebelfry · 08/12/2010 01:05

is it really appropriate for 6 year olds to be online. without sounding like peedo alert - where anyone can speak to them (Absurdia, I expect you are a lovely, nice ham loving middle class middle aged mum from islington but you could be "anyone", even from oop north). I like my yr 4 DS to have It skils but he doesn't need to "network" with the great unwashed. Er, I mean unknown.

Absurdia · 08/12/2010 01:11

Ahhh you mumsnet because you didn't get out enough as a child...??

Using computers for reasonable amounts of time does not cause obesity.

Now if the OP had asked "AIBU my school has insisted my child sits on the sofa watching telly for 6 hours a day", fair enough.

She didn't. It is a school based program to connect children from one school with each other and to other children around the world. Where they might learn something new and interesting that they couldn't actually get from their local park.

The internet isn't bad.

It is a tool you could choose to help your child use to explore the world.

ShanahansRevenge · 08/12/2010 01:13

No...bad...bad, bad BAD! I hope my DDs school don't try to pull somethig like this...if I were you OP I would be down there having a good talk to the HT about this

6 year old's need to be encourage dto live in the real world for as long as possible.

Out of interest how many of you allow your 6year olds to chat to pals on the phone o an evening or weekend?

Not many I bet..social networing online is NO diferent...except it's a bit worse.

MrManager · 08/12/2010 01:13

If you know how to set up your or your child's FB account you are at no risk of paedophiles. Good on the school for teaching them these skills in a safe environment before taking it out into the real world.

And it is very appropriate for 6 year olds to be online. We won't even recognise IT by the time that 6 year old is at an age to get a job, a job that doesn't even exist yet, but it pretty likely going to involve communicating on the internet.

Absurdia · 08/12/2010 01:16

pmsl @ your guess of my maybe self cats Grin

But point is, social networking is a very broad field. This isn't myspace, Bebo or Facebook.

This is a closed network constantly monitored by adults/teachers/guardians. Where children learn the importance of being safe online.

I personally think that is a good way to learn about the social networking that might SHOCKHORROR involve unknown people one day.

I am of the school of teach children interesting things while they are interested and will listen. I prefer this to kids going online at 14 and making mistakes.

Absurdia · 08/12/2010 01:17

Shanahan, I'd let my 6 year old write a letter to their penpal in Australia though...

Kaloki · 08/12/2010 01:19

I think teaching children how to interact online safely is hugely important. And providing a safe environment definitely beats letting them on to FB.

GraceAwayInAManger · 08/12/2010 01:28

Nooo, The Internet should be banned! Everybody knows it's full of paedos & other perverts, lurking behind every screen to jump out and grab your innocent DCs! And if not the DCs, then there's a sleazy slut in suspenders, waiting to jump out at your DH! And it makes people fat! The only way to stay safe from The Internet is to avoid it. Turn your back on it, pretend it doesn't exist. That'll learn it.

ShanahansRevenge · 08/12/2010 01:29

It's the social aspect for me. Why do it during home time? Why not have it only in school time?

It could lead to exclusion of certain kids.

POPULAR KID: "Oh I had 14 PMs last night...how many did you get?

UNPOPULAR KID "Er...2..."

Social neworking is also a massive opportunity for bullies. Even at 6.

MrManager · 08/12/2010 01:34

The playground is also a massive opportunity for bullies, ShanahansRevenge, this way the parents can see exactly what their child has said and is saying. Much less chance for bullying on a supervised social network.

MrManager · 08/12/2010 01:35

This is the website in question, btw

ShanahansRevenge · 08/12/2010 01:37

Yes there is bullying in the plaground..and if you think that ALL parents will sit over their DCs whilst they "network" thir way through the kindergarten class you're naive.

MrManager · 08/12/2010 01:42

Of course not, but they can check in now and then. Plus having a bullying message in black and white will make it a lot harder for a parent to argue 'my little angel would never say that'.

ShanahansRevenge · 08/12/2010 01:46

But it won't stop it happening MrManager. My point is this...at primary age..and especially under 8 years old, a child needs education and friends and a social life...but it does not need to be chatting with friends in the evening. That time is for family and food and rest and play...with the exception of the odd non-cyber play-date.

We are flesh and blood...and while my child is still developing in so many comples ways I think that a site such as this is unhealthy.

ShanahansRevenge · 08/12/2010 01:47

complex...not comples!

MrManager · 08/12/2010 01:52

Education and friends and a social life can all happen on the internet. It's just that our traditional views of those things haven't caught up yet.

In 5-10 years we will see social networking as much a part of a healthy social life as talking to your friends on the phone.

GotArt · 08/12/2010 02:49

CatsintheJingle 1 in 5000 children are victims of unknown pedophile. The 4999 others are victims of sexual abuse from someone close to the family or a family member themselves. No child should be left unattended using the internet any more than you would leave a child alone with a firecracker and matches. New world requires new approaches for safe navigating. Children need to be spoken to about the good and the bad.

Absurbia No "(u)sing computers for reasonable amounts of time does not cause obesity" does not CAUSE obesity, however it does CONTRIBUTE to it and many stats demonstrate this.

Shanahan Ah yes, the let's put all the kids into bubbles and so they don't feel excluded. Peer pressure and exclusion comes in all forms. Not letting your child being involved in something just because you are afraid they might not get as many PM's as the next kid is just another form of exclusion. I am certainly not naive that all parents are going to sit with their children and look over what they are doing on the internet and I feel sorry for those children because clearly, their parents don't give a damn. If your rules in your house are that evening time is family time then fair enough. Those are your household rules. But it isn't in every household every night.

MrManager Education and friends and a social life can all happen on the internet. It's just that our traditional views of those things haven't caught up yet. Indeed! This is a very different world our children are growing up in and instead of trying to stifle it, we should encourage it with new rules and limitations.

nooka · 08/12/2010 04:21

Six seems a bit young to me - I don't think that my guys were good enough at typing at that age to do anything on their own. Although maybe that's the point. Their school takes a bit of a different approach as social networking is banned (the children and me and dh had to sign an agreement about it). I'm happy with that on the whole.

They use some social sites, but ones with very limited interaction options. ds is on xbox live and has had a couple of incidents with other kids, but as he plays in our living room we can keep an eye on things.

I don't get the fully formed individual idea though.